20 euros AUSTRIA 2021 - The Wisdom of the Owl

20 euros AUSTRIA 2021 - The Wisdom of the Owl

Few natural experiences are as otherworldly as the sight of the piercing golden-yellow eyes of an owl peering through pitch black darkness. This sensation comes to life in The Wisdom of the Owl, the second coin in the five-piece Eyes of the World series, with the help of sparkling Swarovski® crystals that enhance the already mythical quality of the animal.

Despite the nocturnal hunter's ability to turn its enormous head up to 270 degrees, the omniscient serenity it projects while sitting motionless on a branch is strikingly reminiscent of elderly members of our own species. This may be the reason why humans have always recognized ourselves in the owl. The light of wisdom seems to shine in the eyes of the bird, to the extent that the owl was believed to produce the light itself, its eyes like round windows magically illuminating the darkness. The equation of light with wisdom comes from the Western worldview, which since time immemorial has launched the light of reason in a fight against the forces of darkness.

The reverse of the coin is dominated by the stylized face of an owl with eyes of sparkling multi-faceted golden yellow Swarovski® crystals, while the obverse of the coin shows an owl perched on a branch, from which it looks towards down, patiently and persistently, in search of his prey. The bird is surrounded by decorations reminiscent of ancient Greek ornaments.