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Just a short thread on the remarkable series of commemorative 5 Euro coins issued by Germany between 2016 and 2021.  The set with Planet Earth - Top row, Tropical Zone - Middle Row, Subtropical Zone - Bottom Row,  Temperate Zone - Top Row, Subpolar Zone - Middle Row, Polar Zone -Bottom row, These coins were issued as commemoratives and were unique in the sense they had a Three material composition. The inner core was 19% Copper and 81% Nickel and the outer ring was the same metals but the ratio 25/75. Also between the 2 metal parts was a polymer plastic ring that is translucent and these followed these patterns. 2016 Planet Earths - Purple/Blue to Indigo 2017 Tropical Zone - Shades of Red 2018 Subtropical Zone - Orange to Yellow 2019 Temperate Zone - Greenyellow to Dark green 2020 SubPolar Zone - Shades of Tourquoise to Dark Blue 2021 Polar Zone - Shades of Pink and Purple Each of the 5 mints had a slightly different colour shade and these will be discussed in the following posts. The coins are based on the Global Climate Zone system devised by German/Russian Scientist Valdemar Koppen. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%...assificationThe coins have some differences, Zone B is the desert zone and can be found in cooler as well as warmer zones (Sahara vs Gobi desert) and the D Zone is described as Boreal or Continental rather than Subpolar, which really is the coolest version of the D Zone. The system dating from the late 19th century has also been criticised as the C Zone is too broad and that places like Northern New Zealand and SE Australia are lumped in the same climate zone as Lofoten Islands Norway, Alaska and Faeroe Islands! |
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A big THANK YOU to member REDLOCK for providing me with these coinsTechnical SpecificationsValue: 5 Euros - €5.00 per coin Size: 27.25mm, 2.3 width Weight: 9.0 grams Composition: Cupro Nickel core and outer ring with polymer core Country: Germany Mints and Mintmarks: A = Berlin, D = Munich, F = Stuttgart G = Karlsruhe, J = Hamburg Status: Non circulating commemrative coins. Mintages: 400,000 per mint for Earth and Tropical coins, 600,000 per mint for all others. Proof Like Coins: 50,000 per mint for Earth and Tropical, 80,000 per mint for all others Presentation: Cards for standard uncirculated or loose, Plastic see through boxes for mint coins, also sold loose and in philatelic coin covers.  Coin Obverses, the eagle on the Planet Earth is different to the Eagle on the 2017 - 2021 coins. Availability: The Planet Earth coins now are quite rare and cost around 40€ or more each, the Tropical coins are also scarce and cost around 25€ each. The others are much cheaper between €16 and €8 or so. The series proved more popular than expected and my guess is that they increased the mintages with the 2018 Subtropical coins to reflect that. The coins were eagerly anticipated each release date and a video I found on Youtube from 2020, shows lines at the Federal Reserve banks streaming around the block for the Subpolar coins.
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The six major designs 1. Planet Earth - 2016 An image of the Western Hemisphere marked out in small dots in the core with Africa, Europe and most of Asia prominent. Parts of North and South America visible. Planets in the outer ring, one with rings (Saturn) and several smaller planets and dots. Large edge of a planet top left, possibly the sun? This design is very different to the later 5 ones and some may even debate if these planet earth coins should be included with the Koppen climate ones. Many sets no doubt will miss them due to their prices. 2. Tropical Zone - 2017 The coin shows a fluttering parrot about to land on some random bushes/ flowering stalks of some tropical plant. It is hard to say if its a plant or a branch it is landing on from a fish eye lens. Other fluttering bird outlines can be seen on the edge of the coin and some of the parrot's outer wing also stretches across the colour band. The red of the band indicates the warmth of this zone The words "Tropische Zone" (Tropical Zone) are prominent. 3. Subtropical Zone - 2018 The designs became more elaborate with coin. The design shows 3 goats or caprid/antelopid like animals resting under a tree that looks like one found on a savanna or semi arid enviroment. There are also rocks under the tree and two of the goats stand under it, another one is heeling. The tree has a wide canopy which extends into the outer ring and branches streak across the polymer. A horizon line is also clear. The goats are therefore seeking shade from the harsh dry surroundings. The words "Subtropische Zone' (Subtropical Zone). The orange band suggest the warmth but also the dryness of this zone. A flat horizon suggests the barrenness of this environment. Edited by Princetane
07/27/2022 6:19 pm
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4. The Temperate Zone - 2019 This coin shows a rabbit or a hare pounced on a field or meadow which has some undulations. In the distance are various trees, some evergreen and others deciduous with missing leaves, suggesting the seasonal nature of this climate. In the outer rings one can see a branch with mostly missing leaves and leaves on the ground with the outlines of pine trees. This suggests we have an autumnal scene here. The words "Gemassigte Zone" are present (Temperate Zone). The green band suggests the overall mild weather of this zone, but also the abundant rain and changeable nature of the weather. The autumnal scene also suggests seasons affect the weather greatly in this zone and it is much more volatile than the warmer zones shown so far. 5. The Subpolar Zone - 2020 This coin shows a reindeer or elk like creature standing on a barren rock. It is hard to tell if this is rocks or snow in this environment. No trees are visible, but a weather tower is. The immediate impression you get is how barren this environment is. The D zone covers a large area, but this scene is almost the extreme cold end of it, like the Tundra or the fringes of Siberia rather than say the plains of Iowa or Nebraska or the Manchurian countryside that fills the warmer parts of the continental zone. The words "Subpolar Zone" are also shown (Sub Polar). The Dark green and blue bands suggest how cold this zone is and yet can also be wet and snowy. It is much less comfortable to live in this zone than the first 3. 6. The Polar Zone - 2021 This coin shows a Leopard seal diving into cold water with icebergs and ice shelf above and below water. The horizon line is still again and the impression of absolute cold is helped with the Purple band. The coin is inscribed Polare Zone (Polar Zone). The environment is very inhospitable and does not have much human activity. More detailed posts on each coin type, designers and better photos showing each coin from each mint and its colour ring will follow.
Edited by Princetane
07/27/2022 6:37 pm
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Looking good!  |
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How are these coins designated...Bi-Metallic/Plastic?
KK
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KK - That is a real debate, Numista say the coins are Tri Metallic, but in my opinion Polymer Plastic is not a metal. The metal is pretty much the same for the ring and the core, but the ratios are slightly different with the core having more nickel (25%) than the ring (19%). Yet the colour of this metal looks the same to me. I am myopic and do not have the sharpest or most chromatic vision in the world.
I am going to settle with bi metallic, but a triple compound coin as the polymer plastic binds the two rings of coin (I am really dying to know what the exact construction process of these coins was).
Some may even say single metallic (Cupro nickel ring and inner with a plastic band dividing the two) and others may refer to it as bi metallic through the use of copper and both nickel in the metal parts of these coins. Others may go further and say its quad metallic as the copper and nickel count as sepearate metals for each of the two metallic sections!
Some may say its a plastic coin with some metal parts. The more extreme will say its a "Franken - coin" which is truly monstrous.
Finally I assume that the "Polymer" rings are a separate construction and have no metallic or other parts aside from the Polymer plastic and whatever causes the shade of the 1 of 30 colour shades any coin in the series have.
Edited by Princetane
07/28/2022 7:26 pm
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The Blue Planet Earth coins - 2016These were the first coins issued in the set and 5 of them came out with the same design, but with a slightly different coloured ring for each mint.  The image has the coins in mint order - Left to right, A, D, F, G, J, The Obverse was designed by Alana Hoyer and Reverse by Stefan Klein. The edges are engraved "Blauer Planet Erde" twice (Blue Planet Earth) and the blue ring represents the blue atmosphere of Earth (Core) separating it from space (Outer ring). The coin was released on April 14 2016 at all the mints concurrently. A total of 400,000 standard coins per mint was produced (2 million coins in total) and 50,000 proof like examples at each mint (Total 250,000).  Reverses of 2 of the coins  Obverses of 2 of the coins (Standard mint examples) Of the series of 6 designs, Planet earth coins are now the scarcest and retail values are high due to people wanting to collect and complete their sets. It is not known if they will remain high or just collapse in time. The coin was hailed as a global first and a true innovation at the time, also adding to its prestige as a collector piece. The market has remained strong 6 years out with Redlock explaining to me how hard it was to get examples of them. Numista page - https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces82985.htmlGerman mint page - https://www.bundesbank.de/en/tasks/...earth-883186Please note, these links are pages in English.
Edited by Princetane
07/28/2022 9:41 pm
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A big THANK YOU to member REDLOCK for providing me with these coins It's always a pleasure to help a fellow collector. |
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Australia
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Great thread PrinceTane.
I was looking through this and thought I really need the 2016 Planet Earth coin to complete my one of each type set.
Then I checked the mail box 2 hours later and guess what? A letter from Redlock and inside was this coin.
Thank you very much Redlock, very much appreciated.
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...That is a real debate, Numista say the coins are Tri Metallic, but in my opinion Polymer Plastic is not a metal... That is a lot to digest!  |
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Steve - Thank God for that, because breaking up my set would have been hard!
What mints do you have - you should post your coins on the thread as I am worried it will soon slide down the lists and become forgotten.
Have noticed the series is not being continued and 2022's coin is a one featuring insects.
JBuck - I agree, your guess in describing what these coins "are" is as good as mine or anyone elses!
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The Tropical Zone coins - 2017This was the first of the main series. The Obverse by Stefanie Radkte shows a modified German eagle motif and this design would be retained for the subsequent coins, it is different to the Planet Earth coins. Radkte also designed the reverse which as I guess is the view of some high tropical rainforest trees from the parrot at left approaching them. It is an attempt at a bird's eye view. Ambitious, yet would be more successful on another medium than a coin! The German mint explains the red ring as a change from the open sky zone the parrot was flying through to the enclosed damp rainforest. The coin seemed to have been released on April 27 2017 and was also issued in just quantities of 400,000 per mint and 50,000 proof like examples. This was the same number as earth coins. The coins were inscribed KLIMAZONEN DER ERDE twice (Climate Zones of the Earth) and this inscription appears on all of the subsequent coins (Subtropical, Temperate, Sub Polar and Polar) It was issued in 5 colour shades.  The shades are according to Numista, A= Rose, D= Tempranillo (?) F= Merlot, G= Cherry, J = Currant. Coins again are in letter order. D and F are quite darkish red (Merlot is red wine), A and G are reddish and J is pink. Like the Planet earth, the Tropical coins are hard to find and expensive compared to the later coins, but much cheaper and easier than the "Earth coins". Adding tropical zone coins therefore is always a thrill and was the first challenge for us. Numista Link - https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces110486.htmlGerman Bank release link - https://www.bundesbank.de/en/tasks/...-zone-623262
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Australia
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Steve - Thank God for that, because breaking up my set would have been hard!
What mints do you have - you should post your coins on the thread as I am worried it will soon slide down the lists and become forgotten. Haha, I certainly wouldn't want you to break up that wonder full set. I am far from a complete set, mostly because of the cost of these coins. This is what I have so far. I am happy to have a least an example of each. 2016 G 2017 A 2018 A, G, J 2019 A, D, J 2020 A, J 2021 A, J Here is a pic of the 2017 obverse.  Edited by triggersmob
07/30/2022 02:37 am
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Pillar of the Community
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That's a good start, 12 so far and it seems Redlock is taking care of you too.
Good on ya Redlock!
Like with me, it seems the Subtopical and Temperate coins are the ones that are most complete in your line up. Redlock started sending me these coins after you turned me on to swapping with him and it was the 18, 19 and 20's that came first (It was late 2020 so no 2021 coins had come out yet).
By mid 2021 I had a complete set of 2018 Subtropicals and then a few months later the Temperates and then Polar coins started arriving. My first Tropical coin arrived in 2021 too.
In May 2022 the complete Polar set had arrived and the 2nd tropical. When the banknote request came through in June, Redlock let me know some Planet Earth coins had come on the market and I could have a set for a worthwhile swap, what began was the great Kiwi banknote noodle!
But in the last 3 weeks I have received all of the Planet Earth coins and the final Tropical and Subpolar coins making the set complete as of last week. Doing this huge thread is one of expressing my gratitude and letting Redlock and you all know, they are more than just trophies to me and in my thirst for knowledge wanted to find out all about these coins and spread the knowledge with you all!
Excellent shot too, your coin has the rose shade of red!
Edited by Princetane
07/30/2022 01:46 am
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Posted 07/27/2022 6:17 pm
