“Anodic Oxidation” gives the light gray shining niobium a thin oxide film before it is combined with the silver ring. The refraction of light produces the interference colors that lend the metal its characteristic turquoise shade. Once the two metals have been joined, the coins are minted by the Austrian Mint.

The coin’s reverse depicts the Austrian aviation pioneer Igo Etrich piloting an “Etrich-Taube“(pigeon) with the construction plan of the powered glider “Zanonia III” on its right. The wings had been designed by Igo Etrich in cooperation with Franz X. Wels using the shape of the flying seed of the pumpkin plant Macrozanonia macrocarpa. Above it flies an airplane named after the designing engineer, the shape of which has a resemblance to a pigeon, and which therefore bears the name “Etrich-Taube“. The silver ring shows the writing “Luftfahrt in Österreich” (Aviation in Austria).

The “value side” of the coin forges a link to the present, and the niobium part shows into the cockpit of a modern passenger plane.

The coin is legal tender in the Republic of Austria.