Cook Island Issues IYA2009 Commemorative Coins

These coins are from Cook Island issued for the International Year of Astronomy 2009, in commemoration of the very celebration. There are 10 beautiful coins which are very picturesque and spectacular. The obverse side of all the 10 coins are same, and the reverse sides are minted with the planets of the solar system. Therefore, in a nutshell, it can be said that this Cook Island numismatic collection features the solar system. 

The obverse of these 10 coins features the Queen Elizabeth II, with a face value of $1. The below is the image of the obverse side of the IYA2009 coin issued by Cook Island.

The 10 reverse sides depict the the Sun, 8 planets of the solar system, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and the solar system, itself in a single reverse side. Significantly the designers of these Cook Island IYA2009 coins has associated Roman & Greek mythology with coins, for each of the reverse side also features a portrait of corresponding God or Goddess from the ancient mythology. Additionally they also have in them astrological symbols of each planetary body, represented.

Here are the reverse sides and the obverse side again of IYA2009 Cook Island coins.

Here are the specifications of IYA2009 Commemorative Coins of Cook Island

Diameter : 40.0 mm
Weight : 27.0 g
Composition : Copper (Cu), silver plated with padprinting
Mintage : 5 000

In fact this Polynesian island has the largest variety of IYA2009 coins issued by a single country. These elegant IYA2009 coins of Cook Island come enclosed in an official box with certificates as follows.

IYA2009 Commemorative Coins of Greece

The above is the commemorative coin of IYA2009, issued by Greece in 2009. To your left is the obverse side bearing the face value of 10 Euros. The obverse features in middle a wreath of olive leaves encircling an inscription from a book. There are also 7 stars brought out in different sizes.

The reverse side of the coin represents 8 stars, 7 of which are quite similar to those of obverse along with an additional start which is in the center of the coin in bright color. In addition the tittle "2009 International Year of Astronomy" is engraved in Greek in the below border of reverse.

When compared to other IYA2009 coins of different countries, the Greek coin is somewhat different from the design, as it is not a perfect circle in shape, but a unique shape as seen above. 

Here are some specifications of this IYA2009 coin of Greece 


Title: International Year of Astronomy
Grade: Proof
Details: The International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009) is a year-long celebration of astronomy, taking  place in 2009 to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the first recorded astronomical observations with a telescope by Galileo Galilei and the publication of Johannes Kepler's Astronomia nova in the 17th century.

Diameter - 28.25mm
Thickness - 1.92mm
Weight - 9.75gr
Composition - Silver .925 (sterling)
Edge: Shaped edge with fine scallops
Mintage: 5,000 pieces

Here is another photo of the same coin.

IYA2009 Commemorative Coins of France

France has come up with 4 versions of commemorative coins issued in celebration of International Year of Astronomy 2009. In fact France has the most valuable of all the IYA2009 numismatic collection, which is a graceful golden coin, valued at $2,000. This French IYA2009 coin, issued by the Paris Mint is the first domed coin of IYA collection, having convex (slightly bent upward in center , just like a lens) and concave surfaces on obverse & reverse sides respectively.

The physical properties of the coin gives the idea that the French have stuck to the facts of IYA2009, itself and the 40th anniversary of the first even Lunar landing by humans, embracing the legendary footage of Neil Armstrong back in 1969, which gave a dramatic boost to the then space exploration.

Here is the silver version of the IYA2009 coin of France.

The obverse as seen to your left, is depicted with the commemoration of 40th anniversary of Apollo 11, first lunar landing. The obverse is apparently covered with a finely crafted very 1st foot print of Neil Armstrong. There are also the face value of 10 Euros, denomination, mint, the Year of 2009 plus an inscription in French meaning the "40th anniversary to the first landing in Moon", lie in the obverse.

The reverse appears quite simple, resembling a planetarium like insight. It appears as such that the dome of the sky, complete with the stars all over the reverse. The Saturn is highlighted there in the top with much bigger print. The lower edge is made creative with the astronomical symbolic forms of planets, starting with closest Moon and going through all the way to Pluto. Yes Pluto is there but not in its standard symbol (♇). It's also noteworthy that Earth is missing in the queue.

As told earlier you can feel the golden coin, if you visualize the the above coin made up of gold and blue gold instead, with the face value of $ 200. There are 2 amazing facts about this gold coin, that the coin itself weighs just 1 ounce and the other is that this beauty is marketed for a lump sum of $ 2,000, 1000% of its original face value.

The above-pictured coin is minted with 10,000 pieces, where as its 163.8 gram version has a mintage of 500 pieces, and 8.45 gram gold coin being minted with 1000 pieces plus the most expensive gold and blue gold version coming up with 1000 pieces, weighing 31.104 grams.

Just think what amount of monetary gain that the Paris Mint has gained simply with the gold and blue gold version, It's simple math . 1000 pieces each worth $ 2,000. $ 2,000,000 ! Think about the amount of astronomy that they could do!

The coin has a face value of €10 and is 90% silver, weighing in at 22.2 gm with a diameter of 37 mm. It has a maximum mintage of 10,000 pieces. The coin was also available in a 500-mintage 163.8 gm (5.77 oz) version, a 1000-mintage 8.45 gm (0.30 oz) gold one, and then the 1000-mintage 31.104 gm (1.1 oz) gold with blue gold plate version.


Here are some parameters of the Silver version of 4 coins issued by Paris Mint.

Specifications

Artist: Atelier de Gravure
Weight: 22,20 g = 0,78 oz
Diameter: 37 mm = 1,46 inch
Mintage: 10 000
Metal: Silver 90%
Quality: Proof
Face value: 10€

Here is also another image.

Romania, Issues Commemorative Coins + Medal for IYA2009

This set of coins contains issued by Romania in celebration of International Year of Astronomy 2009 comes with elegant numismatic markup, together with a medallion issued for the same cause. This medallion is made up of silver and looks gorgeous as below.

The obverse side of this medal presents the official logo of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 and the inscription "ANUL INTERNATIONAL AL ASTRONOMIEI ROMANIA 2009" which is translated to "International Year of Astronomy 2009 ROMANIA.

The reverse side of this medal features in the center, a graphical composition that symbolizes the Astronomical Observatory of the Romanian Academy in Bucharest, the telescope of Galileo Galilei, his portrait and the planets of the Solar System. Outside this center arc lies the inscription "DESCOPERA SINGUR UNIVERSUL", meaning Universe Yours to Discover, the general theme of IYA2009.
 
The Romanian IYA2009 coins have been put into circulation from 28th August, 2009 with a mintage of 1000 coins. They come with the face values of 1 ban, 5 bani, 10 bani and 50 bani.
(US 1$ = 295.57 bani)

Features of Silver Medallion

• Composition: 800/1000 silver;
• Weight: 15.50 grams;
• Diameter: 28 mm;
• Edge: Smooth;
• Quality: proof;
• Circulation: 1000 copies; 

More info : http://www.bnro.ro/home.aspx