Incredible Richat Structure featured on the Mint of Poland’s latest silver coin release

We cover a lot of coloured silver nature coins from the Mint of Poland and while they don’t reach the heights of excellence scaled by their premium ranges, they rarely disappoint within their field. This new coin is a case in point. A fascinating subject, well implemented, we can see the appeal here, especially with space/astronomy coins being so popular of late, but usually quite expensive.

This one showcases a natural landscape feature that is quite extraordinary. The Richat Structure is a slightly elliptical dome over 40 kilometres in diameter that is sited in the Saharan desert near Ouadane in west–central Mauritania. Also called the Eye of the Sahara and Guelb er Richat, it was originally thought to be an asteroid impact structure, but the absence of shock metamorphism, or indeed any impact deformation, has led scientists to believe that it is a symmetrical uplift that has been laid bare by erosion.

The coin pushes no boundaries in terms of specification, but these rarely do. It’s struck in an ounce of fine (0.999) silver and selectively coloured on the reverse face. The clean-struck portion carries the inscription naming the feature and gives the design a subtle illusion of layered depth. The antique-finished obverse is another of the modified Niue Island ones that the Mennica Polska has been doing such a fine job with recently. The obligatory Queens effigy is sat upon an ammonite design, with all the inscriptions following the spiral design quite closely. The ammonite was chosen because they’re a common fossil in the area, one rich in ancient life including the largest known land predator, Spinosaurus Aegypticus.

Packaged in one of the pretty cool latex suspension frames that make display a breeze, the coin comes with a certificate of authenticity and is limited to just 999 pieces. Not always the easiest coins to find, this one is available at one of our advertisers, PowerCoin, for just under €110 with shipping from mid-February.

The origins of the Richat Structure, an enigmatic geological landmark located in the western parts of the largest desert in the world, are still shrouded in mystery. This stunning rock formation, also known as the Eye of the Sahara, was first identified from outer space. And no wonder, as it is nearly 50 kilometres across! The genesis of this intriguing land formation remains unexplored.

This is why the Eye of the Sahara is still one of the greatest mysteries of our planet. Once thought to be an impact crater or an extinct volcano, the Richat Structure is also seen as the remnants of an unknown extraterrestrial civilisation. Further studies are needed to unravel this question. Unfortunately, not soon would the inaccessible frontiers of Western Sahara allow us to understand the phenomenon of this obscure rocky formation…

The mystery of the Eye of the Sahara is concealed beneath the relief of this coin. The collectable astounds with its intricate decorations. Its vivid deep-colored digital printing and exquisite antique finish (applied on the coin with the use of selective galvanic bath) won’t leave you indifferent!

REVERSE:  In the central part of the coin – geological structure Kalb ar-Riszat also known as the “Eye of the Sahara” (relief, digital printing, antique finish).
In the bottom, along the rim – inscription: Kalb ar-Riszat.

OBVERSE:  In the upper part of the coin – effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Below it – initials of the sculptor: IRB (Ian Rank-Broadley).
In the background – stylised decorative surface: ammonite. Along the rim and spirals of the ammonite – inscriptions: ELIZABETH II, 2016 (year of issue), NIUE ISLAND (issuer), 2 DOLLARS (face value), Ag 999 (hallmark). In the centre of the ammonite – mint mark: m/w.