Aeroplane, 1 Dollar, Series: How Man Conquered the Skies

“Aeroplane” is the forth commemorative coin of the “How Man Conquered the Skies” series.

The Mint of Poland, in an effort to bring man’s dreams of conquering the skies and admiring the world from up above closer, decided to produce a new series of silver –commemorative coins, entitled “How Man Conquered the Skies” to present the numerous attempts over the years to soar through the air. The first coin of the series depicted Icarus, the mythological forerunner of aviation. The second coin presented the invention of the Montgolfier brothers – the hot air balloon whilethe third commemorated the Glider designed by Otto Lilienthal.

The coins will be struck at a very low mintage – up to 6,000 pieces – using Ag 925 blanks, in proof quality.

Obverse:
The central part of the coin features images of flying objects: a technical drawing of an Antonov plane wing, to the right an engine with a star pattern of pistons, to the left a profile of an aerobatics plane, and above it a bird’s wing. To the left side of the coin, along its rim an inscription: Niue Island and the face value: 1 Dollar, issue date: 2011. In the top part of the coin the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with the inscription: Elizabeth II, the mint’s mark (m/w), and along the rim the title of the series:  “How Man Conquered the Skies”.

Reverse:
In the central part of the coin: a stylized image of the aeroplane designed by the Wright Brothers. At the bottom: images of the constructors and inscriptions: Orville & Wilbure Wright. In the background: a horizon outline.

Designer: Witold Nazarkiewicz

The era of airplanes began from the breakthrough invention by the Wright Brothers. Orville (1871-1948) and Wilbure (1867-1917) built a plane which was capable -to fly thanks to its combustion engine. In 1903 they successfully completed their first controlled flight, which lasted 12 seconds. Another important step pushing aviation to the next level was the development of the jet engine in the 1930s. Piston engines proved to be of little value when flying at high speeds and significant altitudes where the air is rarefied. As early as 1928 a British engineer, Frank Whittle (1907-1996), patented his first design of jet engine. However, the first jet airplane called Heinkel He 178, was constructed in Germany by Ernst Heinkel in 1939. During World War II British and American troops deployed their jet airplanes in numerous important and deciding battles. The jet aircraft of today are capable of breaking the sonic barrier.