Nicolaus Copernicus launched the scientific revolution and had a significant impact on its development. His most important achievement is the heliocentric theory, according to which the Earth and other planets revolve around the Sun, and not vice versa, as was believed at the time. Copernicus published this theory in his work "De revolutionibus orbium coelestium" (On the revolutions of the celestial spheres).

The obverse of the coin depicts the figure of the illustrious scientist looking towards the Sun. The reverse depicts the entire solar system as it was called in the 16th century, the coat of arms of the Central Bank of Malta and the mint mark of Germania Mint. The designer of the coin is Natalia Danysz.