Over the years I have whittled down my buying of NCLT:  The only NCLT issue I buy now is the Austrian 25 Euro coins.    Last year they anodized the niobium so to produce two colours...they did the same this year. 

That's awesome! I just did a blog post concerning niobium coins:

Interesting kids blog.  Its funny the Vienna mint and the Canadian mint seem to have had an on going competition.   First it was going for the worlds largest gold coin( Canada took that one out in the end).  Vienna started the bi metallic coins( niobium and Silver and then canada followed suit.   I think the competition is good because it brings  out the best in both mints.    Niobium hass a lot of uses  in the aircraft industry its used to produce super strong alloys( Propellor and impeller blades amongst a couple)  used in glass it produces extremely good optics.  

Ian - Do you think that you could smuggle one of those little blue gems in your baggage when you came to the summer seminar I want to see it. If I get to fondle it you may not get it back!!

The coin is amazing!!!!!!