Luminous Marine Life

3 Euro Coins

With our series Luminous Marine Life we dive into the depths of the oceans. To celebrate the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, we are embarking on an undersea adventure that shows just how fascinating and colourful the underwater world can be. With a mintage of 65,000, the 12 innovative 3 euro coloured coins in the series, 4 of which will be issued each year over 3 years, will not only make your eyes light up, the coins actually do that themselves thanks to special lighting effects.

As improbable and magical as the sea creatures featured on the coins may seem, they really do exist. Even though some of them live in the perpetual darkness of the deep seas, where no ray of sunlight penetrates, they all have extraordinary luminous qualities. They flash, sparkle and glow and change colour when necessary.

The same applies to the coins themselves, which glow when exposed to ultraviolet light in a way that is both exciting and piques our sense of scientific curiosity. A dedicated ultraviolet torch will help you to experience the charming creatures of Luminous Marine Life in full.

UV light effect

The series’ dedicated UV torch gives off a special type of light that appears to bring the underwater creatures on the coins to life as they change colour and glow vividly. Tiny creatures, which only become visible when you shine the UV torch on them, also appear here and there next to the main characters in the series, adding an element of surprise.

On some of the 12 coins, only the edge of a porthole can be seen, beyond which there is only emptiness and darkness. Coins on which nothing can be seen? Is that some kind of bad joke? Not at all. Shine the beam of the UV torch on the coins and you will be amazed.

Antarctic Krill

It may be tiny, but the Antarctic krill plays an absolutely massive role in the planet’s ecosystem. Just 6 centimetres in length and weighing no more than 2 grams, the vital little crustacean lights up the third coin in the Luminous Marine Life series.

The Antarctic krill is so important because it is one of the most abundant animal species on Earth and forms the nutritional basis of many other marine animals in Antarctica, including whales, fish, seals, penguins and other seabirds. If the Antarctic krill is doing well, other species are doing well, too. Krill themselves feed mainly on diatoms and other plant plankton that they collect on thin bristles on their front legs. In spring, their favourite food consists of microalgae that grow on the underside of drift ice.

Antarctic krill emit light through bioluminescent organs located in different parts of the body, including the eyestalk and hips. The organs have a concave reflector and a lens that guides the light, which is so highly developed it can be compared to that of a torch.

Antarctic Krill

Swell Shark

Blue-ringed octopus

Deep-sea Anglerfish Autumn 2023

Stony coral Autumn 2023

Mauve stinger 2024

Blue doctorfish 2024

Hawaiian bobtail squid 2024

Yellow stingray 2024

Firefly squid 2025

Doridid nudibranch 2025

Devil scorpionfish 2025

Antarctic krill

The Antarctic krill is so important because it is one of the most abundant animal species on Earth and forms the nutritional basis of many other marine animals in Antarctica.

Ockto Octopus

Ockto Octopus is a cute cuddly toy from Steiff who completes our Luminous Marine Life underwater adventure.

UV-torch

The fun does not stop with the coins themselves – illustrations and information are also hidden here and there throughout the Collector album. By examining the pages with the torch, with a bit of luck you may discover them.