20 Euro Austria 2022 - THE POWER OF THE TIGER

Known as the king of animals throughout Asia, the tiger has no natural enemies but many admirers. Since time immemorial, people have marveled at the tiger's imposing appearance and natural beauty, which are accentuated by the fiery red Swarovski® crystals that form the tiger's eyes on the third piece in the Eyes of the Worldseries . The color symbolizes strength and energy, but for an animal of such power, the tiger is also known as a peaceful creature, although it is ready to fight at any opportunity.

In the cultural history of Asia, images of the tiger abound. Power and strength in all their forms are attributed to the predator. In China, where the Year of the Tiger begins on February 1, 2022, the animal has always been an emblem of power and bravery. In Hinduism, too, it plays a highly symbolic role, with the goddess Durga often depicted astride a tiger.

Always alert, silent and solitary, the tiger sets out mainly at dusk or night in search of prey, often roaming for hours at a time. Unlike lions, for whom rivers and lakes are a barrier, tigers love water and are excellent swimmers. Deep in the bamboo groves of the jungle, a strange blur of light and shadow makes a fleeting appearance. But however perfectly camouflaged by his magnificent stripes, the tiger remains unrecognizable. A tiger is depicted moving through a bamboo grove on the obverse of the coin, whose outer ring is decorated in the manner of the mandala, the geometric configuration of symbols that holds magical significance in Buddhist and Hindu rituals. The reverse is dominated entirely by the powerful head of a tiger.