The world’s first “flying coin” has been created by the Mint of Poland (Mennica Polska), the maker of Poland’s own official currency.
The coin is set in motion by a motor hidden inside it. A magnetic field generated between the motor and the specially designed base below then causes it to float in the air.
Named UFO MP-1766 due to its likeness to a science-fiction spaceship and in reference to the year the mint was founded, the coin also glows in the dark thanks to the use of fluorescent paint.
The prototype part was revealed at last week's technical forum in Berlin. However, it will only be introduced to the market this spring and will be officially sent to the next lucky collector in June.
“We cannot simply create a coin that goes into official circulation, because only central banks have the right to issue money,” Łukasz Karda, director of the mint’s technical and production planning department, told the Gazeta Wyborcza daily.
“Therefore, there is a business model of getting in touch with somewhat exotic foreign banks, in this case the Bank of Cameroon,” he added.
“At first it sounded like a good joke, but with each passing day it became clear that we were up to the task. We found the right technology and it worked. Work went smoothly, production went rapidly.”
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