5 euro silver coin Friends for Life, Special Uncirculated, Austria 2020

Few animals have had a bigger impact on humans than the horse. Its power, beauty and sensitivity make the horse one of the most beloved members of the animal kingdom, not least among young female riders, many of whom form a profound and enduring bond with their loyal steed. The Easter Coin 2020 celebrates this unique bond.

From being the subject of countless prehistoric cave paintings, to the leading form of human transport for more than five millennia, the horse has played an unparalleled role in the development of society. The most iconic of all European horse breeds is the Lipizzaner, made world famous through its connection with the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. Originally from Slovenia, the Lipizzaner has been bred since 1920 at the stud farm at Piber in the Austrian province of Styria, where some 40 foals come into the world every year. Within minutes of their birth, new born foals can stand and, though initially unsteady, are soon galloping joyfully across the alpine meadows.

The coin features a foal in the foreground frolicking happily through a meadow while its mother keeps a watchful eye close behind. The lower part of the coin is decorated with an assortment of spring flowers.