Collectible Niobium Coins from The Austrian Mint

These are commemorative coins.  They have a denomination of twenty-five euros.  Fine weight is nine grams, and total weight is sixteen and a half grams.  The diameter of each coin is thirty-four millimeters. 

The mintage of each Austrian niobium coin is sixty-five thousand.

The coins have low mintages, and the 2017 coin sold out in less than one month.  This indicates how collectible they are. 

Unfortunately, these coins are not proof coins.

One major change is that one color was used to anodize the coins annually, changing each year.  Then, starting in 2014 the coins received two colors, and this is applied to both sides.  One color is for highlights, the other is for he background.

The color is changes annually.  Repeated colors are different shades.

 2003: 700 Years of Hall in Tyrol, blue

2004: The 150 Anniversary of the Semmering Railway, green

2005 Issue: Fifty Years of Television, purple

2006: European Satellite Navigation antique gold

2007: Austrian Aviation, green

2008: Fascination Light, pale green

2009: International Year of Astronomy, gold

2010: Renewable Energy, blue

2011: Robotic (robotics), rose

2012: Bionik, rose

2013: Tunnel Construction, blue

Beginning with the issues of 2014, the niobium coins of Austria are in multiple colors. 

2014:  evolution, green with blue

2015:  Cosmology, blue with gold

2016:  Time, purple with blue

2017:  Microcosm, green with red

2018:  Anthropocene, dark green and blue with light green

2019:  Artificial Intelligence, light blue with dard blue

2020:  Big Idea:  Green with purple

2021:  Smart Mobility: Light green with dark green

Luxembourg niobium and silver bimetallic coins were first released for the year 2009.  These are similar to the Austrian coins, except the image on the obverse does not change. The reverse image relates to a single theme, architecture, and castle images are in frequent use. 

These are beautiful depictions of castles, which should appeal to many.  Castles are such interesting glimpses into history.

The niobium coins of Luxembourg are minted at the Austrian Mint with the same high standards as the Austrian coins.  It is not unusual for smaller countries to contract out their minting needs.  Luxembourg indeed has found a quality partner.

The denomination used is five euros.  The diameter of each coin is thirty-four millimeters.  These coins are bimetallic with an inner disk of anodized niobium, and an outer ring of silver. 

The mintage for these coins is three thousand pieces annually.  This is incredibly low when compared to the Austrian niobium coins.

Different color shades distinguish those with like colors.

2009:  Castle of Vanden, green

2010:  Castle of Esch – Sur – Sure, blue

2011:  Le Chateau de Mersch, gold

2012:  Castle Bourscheid, dark purple

2013:  Beauford, green

2014:  Castle Larochette, gold

2015:  Castle of Brandenbourg, blue

2016:  Castle of Clervaux, purple

2017:  Castle of Useldange, blue

When annealing two metals together, one inside the other, it is necessary to consider the thermal expansions of the metals.  If the inner metal expands too much compared to the outer metal a distortion at or near the boundary is a possibility.  If the outer piece expands too fast compared to the inner part of the coin, there will be a possibility of the coin coming apart.  Similar problems occur when metals contract.  It is not enough to consider only temperatures near room temperature, the coin must survive shipping in an aircraft where it may be subjected to a severe temperature drop.

Well, small countries use collective commemorative coins as a source of revenue.  Some have coins minted in niobium.  And, at least one small island nation has a bimetallic niobium coin for 2017.

The Royal Canadian Mint has issues two, four-coin series of niobium and silver coins.  These are highly sought after by collectors, especially the first series called The Full Moon series.  However, these series are now complete.

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