What is the silver-niobium coin ‘Leben im All’?
The 25-euro silver-niobium coin ‘Leben im All’ (engl. ‘Life in space‘) is an extraordinary collector's coin issued by the Austrian Mint in 2022. This coin is part of a series known for its innovative minting technique and the use of niobium.
The coin consists of a 900 silver ring and a 998 niobium core. It is issued in high ‘hand-lifted’ minting quality. What makes this coin special is the niobium core, which takes on different colours through anodic oxidation without the use of dyes. This technique enables impressive colouring through light refraction.
Obverse
The front of the coin features a futuristic design with an alien looking down on the globe. It also features the Drake equation (N = R × fp × ne × fe × fi × fc × L), a scientific formula that estimates the number of intelligent life forms in the Milky Way. This equation is a central element in the discussion about extraterrestrial life and fits perfectly with the theme of the coin.
Reverse
The reverse side of the coin depicts various symbols representing the basic requirements for life on other planets:
- CO2 (carbon dioxide): An essential gas for photosynthesis and plant growth.
- Plant: Symbolises vegetation and the possibility of plant life.
- Water droplets: Symbolise water, which is considered crucial for the emergence and preservation of life.
- O2 (oxygen): A vital component for respiration in most known life forms.
- CH4 (methane): Another gas that could be present in planetary atmospheres and provides clues to biological processes.
- Clouds: They represent an atmosphere that can protect and support life.
Testing the coin
The coin is measured based on three characteristics: the diameter, weight and conductivity of the two metals, 900 silver and 998 niobium. These three measurements together provide a comprehensive assessment of the coin. Watch the video! (YouTube)
Conductivity measurement
The GoldScreenPen is used to measure conductivity. Only the ring of the coin is made of 900 silver and only the purple core is made of 998 niobium. Therefore, the GoldScreenPen is more suitable than the GoldScreenSensor, as it allows silver and niobium to be measured separately. The conductivity for 900 silver is around 50.2 MS/m, while a value of approximately 6.4 MS/m is expected for niobium. These expected values were confirmed in the video.
Dimensions & weight
According to the manufacturer, the coin should weigh 16.5 grams and have a diameter of 34 mm. These values are also measured in the video. When measuring the thickness, which should be approximately 2.4 mm, motif-specific deviations in the 0.0x mm range may occur. We were able to measure values between 2.40 and 2.45 mm.
Used products
Testing device for authenticity testing of gold, silver and other (precious) metals
