Austria. 20 Euro 2025 "Einstein Ring" Proof (No reserve price)
Starting bid
€ 1
Add to your favourites to get an alert when the auction starts.
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 137914 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Description from the seller
- Second issue of the series Beauty of the Universe! - The coin is edge-wavy and concave on the obverse! - Limited edition of only 30,000 pieces worldwide! - In the highest minting quality "Proof"! - Delivered in a case with an authenticity certificate!
On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Albert Einstein, the Austrian Mint presents the second silver coin in the series "Beauty of the Universe" and thus a fascinating cosmic paradox: the Einstein ring — something that does not actually exist and yet is observable.
What at first glance appears to be several ring-shaped arranged galaxies is actually one and the same galaxy. Einstein himself had theoretically predicted this phenomenon, but considered it practically unobservable. He would be proven wrong: in 1979 the first Einstein ring named after him was discovered — long after his death.
The explanation lies in Einstein's General Theory of Relativity: gravity is, according to this, an aspect of space-time geometry. Massive bodies like galaxy clusters bend the space around them. Light that traverses this curvature is deflected. This creates an optical illusion: we see light that appears to originate from the edge of a galaxy cluster, while its true source lies exactly behind it. The curvature of space enables us, in a sense, to "look around the corner".
The coin's extraordinary shape vividly illustrates this phenomenon. On the obverse, a circular wave bulges upward — the Einstein ring. It depicts the multiple imaging of a light source seen on the left. In the middle is a simplified representation of a galaxy cluster whose gravity deflects light in different directions. The formula Δφ=4GM/(bc²), with which this light deflection can be calculated, completes the scientific depiction. The obverse side of the coin follows the same basic form and shows a colored interpretation of the Einstein ring.
- Second issue of the series Beauty of the Universe! - The coin is edge-wavy and concave on the obverse! - Limited edition of only 30,000 pieces worldwide! - In the highest minting quality "Proof"! - Delivered in a case with an authenticity certificate!
On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Albert Einstein, the Austrian Mint presents the second silver coin in the series "Beauty of the Universe" and thus a fascinating cosmic paradox: the Einstein ring — something that does not actually exist and yet is observable.
What at first glance appears to be several ring-shaped arranged galaxies is actually one and the same galaxy. Einstein himself had theoretically predicted this phenomenon, but considered it practically unobservable. He would be proven wrong: in 1979 the first Einstein ring named after him was discovered — long after his death.
The explanation lies in Einstein's General Theory of Relativity: gravity is, according to this, an aspect of space-time geometry. Massive bodies like galaxy clusters bend the space around them. Light that traverses this curvature is deflected. This creates an optical illusion: we see light that appears to originate from the edge of a galaxy cluster, while its true source lies exactly behind it. The curvature of space enables us, in a sense, to "look around the corner".
The coin's extraordinary shape vividly illustrates this phenomenon. On the obverse, a circular wave bulges upward — the Einstein ring. It depicts the multiple imaging of a light source seen on the left. In the middle is a simplified representation of a galaxy cluster whose gravity deflects light in different directions. The formula Δφ=4GM/(bc²), with which this light deflection can be calculated, completes the scientific depiction. The obverse side of the coin follows the same basic form and shows a colored interpretation of the Einstein ring.
Details
Era
After 2000
Weight
22.42 g
Number of items
1
Country/province
Austria
Theme
Space
Year/period and variation
2025 "Einstein Ring" Proof
Denomination
20 Euro
Precious metal
Silver
Condition
Uncirculated (not released for circulation)
Sold by
