The Federal Ministry of Finance is planning to release a five-part series of 5 euro collector coins with a coloured polymer ring. The new series, entitled “Climate Zones of the Earth”, follows concerning its topic the first innovative 5 euro collector coin “Planet Earth” (a global innovation with its blue polymer ring), which was released in April 2016.
The series starts in 2017 with an issue featuring the “Tropical Zone” and concludes with the release of a coin featuring the “Arctic Zone” in 2021. The polymer rings are assigned colours according to the climatic conditions prevailing in the individual zones, based on the temperature colour scale: from hot (red) to cold (violet). Therefore, a translucent red polymer ring has been selected for the “Tropical Zone” coin, which will be released in 2017. Each of the five mints in Germany will mint the coin with a polymer ring in a different shade of red. A total mintage of 2.3 million is planned, 300,000 of which will be made in proof quality.
The first coin in the new series is due to be released in spring 2017. The brilliant uncirculated coins will be put into circulation via Bundesbank (German Central Bank) branches at a face value of 5 euros. The proof version will be available at a price above the face value from the German Sales Agency for Collector’s Coins (www.deutsche-sammlermuenzen.de).
Series Data
| Series topic | Climate Zones of the Earth |
| Face value | 5 euros |
| Duration of series | 2017 – 2021 |
| Number of coins released per year | 1 |
| Date of release | Spring 2017; exact date of issue not yet known |
| Material | Cupronickel materials, polymer |
| Minting qualities | Proof and brilliant uncirculated |
| Weight | 9 g |
| Diameter | 27.25 mm |
| Mints | Stuttgart (F), Karlsruhe (G), Munich (D), Berlin (A), Hamburg (J) |
| Mintage | Total mintage in 2017: 2.3 million copies (300,000 in proof, 2 million in brilliant uncirculated) |
The “Climate Zones of the Earth” individual issues
| Year of release | Coin | Colour of polymer ring |
| 2017 | “Tropical Zone” | Red |
| 2018 | “Subtropical Zone” | Orange |
| 2019 | “Temperate Zone” | Green |
| 2020 | “Antarctic Zone” | Turquoise |
| 2021 | “Arctic Zone” | Purple |
Subject to change without notice
The final decision remains with the Federal Cabinet, pursuant to paragraph 5 of the German Coinage Act.