Austria - 25 Euro AgNiob, EDAPHON, 2024

The 2024 Silver Niobium coin brings the bottom to the top by ingeniously illustrating the vibrant world beneath our feet. A world on which we depend but are barely even aware of, the Edaphon is as diverse as a rainforest and is both the foundation of our existence and the key to our planet’s future. A collective term that encompasses all living organisms present in soil, the Edaphon is a meaningful chaos built by living creatures that results in growth and gives rise to new life. The soil teems with ants, beetles and earthworms, but the human eye does not see the inconspicuous army of microorganisms that lies within. Of vital importance to us, they decompose withered plants and dead trees, creating fertile humus. Working unconsciously together, bacteria, fungi, plants and animals build an intricate structure, but it can break down quickly when farmed.