Germany in 2016 will began a six-year series of gold €20 coins honoring the nation’s domestic birds.

The Uncirculated .9999 fine gold €20 coin series follows the German Forests gold €20 coins series that concludes later in 2015. 

The six Domestic Birds coins share a common obverse, with the date of issue the only element to change throughout the program. 

The reverse will show a nightingale in 2016, a golden oriole in 2017, an owl in 2018, a peregrine falcon in 2019, a white stork in 2020 and a black woodpecker in 2021.

Berlin artist Bodo Bansal created the nightingale and peregrine falcon designs. 

Frantisek Chochola, an artist in Hamburg, created designs for the golden oriole and black woodpecker coins. 

Adelaide Base, of Schwielowsee-Geltow, created the designs for the owl and white stork coins, as well as the common obverse for the series. 

The €20 coins weigh 3.89 grams (one-eighth of an ounce) and measure 17.5 millimeters in diameter.

The estimated mintage is 200,000 pieces per design, with mintages to be produced equally by the five German mints (Berlin, Munich, Stuttgart, Karlsruhe and Hamburg).

The first coin of the new series is issued is scheduled for release in mid-2016 at a price to be determined closer to the time of issue. 

Want to read about more German coins? Check out these Coin World stories!

Germany announces 2016 €100 gold coin in UNESCO World Heritage site series

Little Red Riding Hood helps usher in Germany’s higher denomination silver coins

Germany announces plans to issue hybrid metal-polymer collector coin

Germany unveils designs for next three coins in Bundeslander series

More from CoinWorld.com:

Will the American Liberty High, Relief gold coin be a success?

Images of gold coin hoard discovered in Germany released by museum

Collecting gold dollars: Q. David Bowers

Metal detectorist discovers Nazi-era gold coin hoard

Household ordering limit set at 50 for American Liberty, High Relief $100 gold coin

Keep up with all of CoinWorld.com's news and insights by signing up for our free eNewsletters, liking us on Facebook, and following us on Twitter. We're also on Instagram!