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ECU Bowhead whale
| Issuer | Federal Republic of Germany |
|---|---|
| Year | 1995 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Shape | Round |
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| Obverse description | Central field depicts a highly detailed relief of a bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) in left profile, set against a stippled sea surface. A decorative wave-and-foliage border frames the upper portion of the field. A ribbon-style banner along the lower arc bears the bold legend SAVE THE WHALES. To the right of the whale, the German common name and Linnaean binomial GRÖNLANDWAL / Balaena mysticetus appear in the field. A ring of twelve five-pointed stars encircles the entire design, referencing the European Community. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse lettering | ECU FOR NATURE 1995 ECU PRO NATURA |
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| Additional information |
Germany's ECU coinage of the 1990s occupied a peculiar legal limbo — the ECU was a basket currency used in European interbank settlement, never legal tender in Germany, which meant these pieces were issued as collector medals with nominal face values that no shop was obligated to accept. The Bowhead whale selection was part of a broader WWF-linked environmental series.
Nickel silver was the standard alloy for the lower-tier ECU pieces; the precious metal versions of the same designs carried genuine numismatic premiums from the outset.