Commemorating Conservation

Münze Deutschland has unveiled the latest release in its Return of the Wild Animals coin series. Launched in 2023, the series is dedicated to species that nearly went extinct in Germany but have returned to their original habitats due to intensive conservation efforts. The 2026 issue honors Europe’s largest land mammal, the European bison.

Designed by Jasmin Lewis, the .9999-fine gold €20 depicts the large herbivore walking through grass on the obverse, with the legend WISENT (“bison”) below. The designer’s initials also appear at right. The reverse features a stylized eagle, with BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND, the denomination, and the year surrounding the central design. The coin is available on the Münze Deutschland website. The mintage is 57,000.

Enhanced Security

The coin also includes a new security feature that the German Mint debuted at the Berlin World Money Fair in January, the AuVerIn (Authentication, Verification, Information). The process integrates a virtually invisible code into the coin’s relief. The signature is not an added chip, an NFC (near field communication) element, or a visible marking, but is rather a natural part of the coin that unquestionably proves its authenticity. The code can be read using a smartphone camera and a free app. 

The European Bison

The European bison plays a critical ecological role by shaping its environment through grazing, which creates open woodlands and areas where other animal and plant species can find new habitats. Considered a symbol of European conservation, the European bison was once widespread across the continent, but it completely disappeared from the wild in the 20th century due to overhunting and habitat destruction. With only a few animals surviving in zoos and wildlife parks, the species was selectively bred and released back into the wild in the 1950s. Stable herds now roam in Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine, and Germany, particularly in the Rothaar Mountains.