In the framework of the 150 year anniversary of the Austrian “Semmeringbahn” railway a collector’s coin with a nominal value amounting to 25 Euro was issued by the Austrian Mint. This new bimetal coin consists of a silver outer ring and a green niobium “core“ which was manufactured by the PLANSEE AG companies in Reutte and Liezen (Austria).

Anodic oxidation provides the grey shimmering niobium with a thin oxide layer even before it is bonded with the silver ring. Through light refraction interference colours result, which give the metal its green colour. After joining the two metals, coining is realised at the austrian mint.

The face of the coin shows two locomotives symbolising the technical development in the field of locomotive engineering between 1854 and 2004. In the upper half of the coin the universal high-performance locomotive “Taurus“, which is part of the 1016 series, can be seen. Immediately below, the first functional Alpine locomotive is depicted; it was developed by Wilhelm Baron Engerth, a technical engineer in the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. The text “Republik Österreich“ (Republic of Austria) is placed in an arc in the upper part of the coin, the nominal value “25 Euro“ in the centre of the lower coin rim. The year “2004“ can be read below the locomotive.

On the reverse side, on the top left-hand side of the silver ring one can see the letters following the circular shape of the coin: “150 JAHRE“ (150 years) and, starting on the left-hand side below and extending to the right there is the word “SEMMERINGBAHN“. The motif shows a steam locomotive (95.102) coming out of a tunnel and passing the “Kalte Rinne“ gorge. Due to perspective, the locomotive on the niobium “core“ dominates the image as it appears considerably larger than both the tunnel in the background and the forest landscape.

The coin is a legal means of payment in the Republic of Austria.