Silver coin 2 Oz Space probe Pioneer

This unusual silver coin takes the form of a plaque from the Pioneer probe, which is a message to extraterrestrial civilizations.

When, in the early 1970s, the United States was preparing to send the Pioneer 10 and 11 probes into deep space, a question arose that was more philosophical than technical. How to prepare for the possibility that one day the probe would encounter an extraterrestrial civilization? The solution came from renowned astronomer Carl Sagan, his colleague Frank Drake, and artist Linda Salzman Sagan. Together, they designed a plaque attached to the probe that would communicate to extraterrestrials, without the use of words, who we are and where we come from. The diagram engraved on a gold-plated aluminum plate measuring 152×229 millimeters appears simple—it presents the silhouettes of a man, a woman, and the Pioneer probe, a hydrogen atom, a diagram of our solar system, and a diagram showing the position of the Sun relative to galactic pulsars. In reality, however, it is extremely sophisticated and contains a wealth of information about time and distance that can be deciphered using mathematics and physics – truly universal languages valid throughout the universe... Today, this ingenious combination of art and science travels through interstellar space as a silent message about human curiosity, the desire for knowledge, and the belief that we are not alone in the universe...

The reverse side of the coin presents a faithful reproduction of the plaque with all its details. The obverse side commemorates the Pioneer probe's journey through the solar system. As the coin is issued under the license of a foreign issuer, the island of Niue, its obverse also bears the necessary attributes – the national emblem, the nominal value of 2 DOLLARS (NZD), and the year of issue, 2025.

The mintage of the coin, which is stored in an elegant frame, is only 499 pieces.