Numismatic

2023 Austria Cupro-Nickel €3 Marine Life (Swell Shark)

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Issued in 2023, this Austrian three-euro coin highlights the diverse wonders of the underwater world. The piece is minted from cupro-nickel as part of a series dedicated to luminous marine life, aligning with the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. This global initiative draws attention to the preservation and study of our oceans, including the unusual survival mechanisms of deep-sea inhabitants. The reverse of the coin features a vibrant, color-printed swell shark framed as if viewed through a ship's porthole. In the depths of the ocean, some creatures rely on natural luminescence and color-shifting abilities to navigate and survive. The swell shark itself is known to expand its body size to deter predators and possesses a natural ability to fluoresce. To capture this remarkable biological trait, the coin is engineered with a special feature that allows the depicted shark to glow with a green light when exposed to a UV lamp. On the obverse, the design presents a stylized aquatic landscape. Silhouettes of twelve different marine animals swim amidst rising air bubbles, while a single tail fin is shown slipping beneath the ocean waves. This uncirculated release had a limited mintage of 65,000 pieces, making it a fascinating study in modern minting technology and marine biology.