Slovakia 2022: Mine Draining

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A new commemorative €2 coin from Slovakia honors ... take a deep breath, this will be long ... the 300th anniversary of the construction of Continental Europe's first atmospheric steam engine for draining mines.

In a mine you somehow want to get the water out of the way - see this article about an "atmospheric engine" that does or did the job. In the mining town of Nová Baňa, the English engineer Isaac Potter constructed such a machine in 1722, the first of its kind in Continental Europe. The coin design shows the machine in action so to say, and also Potter's signature.

The issue specific side was designed by Peter Valach. Mintage 1 million; that figure includes 5,000 proof pieces. Attached is an image from the mint's website, which also has a larger picture.