Austria 25 Euro Silver Niobium Coin 2005, Fifty years of Television
Without doubt one of the most influential of all inventions, television has dominated people’s lives for more than half a century. The Austrian Mint’s gifted engravers wonderfully evoke the birth of the ‘box’ in this 2005 edition of the 25 euro Silver Niobium series.
Considered something of a classic of retro design in Austria today, the original 1950s Austrian TV test card, used for calibration and focusing at the beginning and end of the broadcasting day, features on the purple niobium core of the coin’s obverse. The country of origin and face value are shown in its outer silver ring. Milestones in the history of television, ranging from an analogue fifties TV set to contemporary digital satellite dishes, are depicted in the silver ring on the coin’s reverse, as is the inscription “50 years of television” in German. An old fashioned TV antenna superimposed over the European section of the globe is depicted in the niobium core.
With a maximum mintage of 65,000 pieces in Special Uncirculated quality only, the coin contains 9 grammes of 900 Fine silver in its outer ring and 6.5 grammes of 998 pure niobium.
Mint: Münze Österreich AG
Market value: € 51.70
quality: special uncirculated
collection: Silver-Niobium
face value: 25 Euro
date of issue: 09.03.2005
coin design: Mag. Helmut Andexlinger
diameter: 34.00 mm; alloy: Silver-Niobium; ring: Silber Ag 900; pill: Niob Nb 99,8; fine weight: 9.00 g; total weight: 17.15 g
TV test card
A test card, also known as a test pattern, is a television test signal, typically broadcast at times when the transmitter is active but no programme is being broadcast (often at startup and closedown). Used since the earliest TV broadcasts, test cards were originally physical cards at which a television camera was pointed, and such cards are still often used for calibration, alignment, and matching of cameras and camcorders. Test patterns used for calibrating or troubleshooting the downstream signal path are these days generated by test signal generators, which do not depend on the correct configuration (and presence) of a camera. Digitally generated cards allow vendors, viewers and television stations to adjust their equipment for optimal functionality. Test cards are typically broadcast with a sine wave reference tone or music.
A test card, also known as a test pattern, is a television test signal, typically broadcast at times when the transmitter is active but no programme is being broadcast (often at startup and closedown). Used since the earliest TV broadcasts, test cards were originally physical cards at which a television camera was pointed, and such cards are still often used for calibration, alignment, and matching of cameras and camcorders. Test patterns used for calibrating or troubleshooting the downstream signal path are these days generated by test signal generators, which do not depend on the correct configuration (and presence) of a camera. Digitally generated cards allow vendors, viewers and television stations to adjust their equipment for optimal functionality. Test cards are typically broadcast with a sine wave reference tone or music.