Euro gold and silver commemorative coins are special euro coins minted and issued by member states of the Eurozone. They are minted mainly in gold and silver, although other precious metals are also used on rare occasions. Austria was one of the first twelve countries in the Eurozone to introduce the euro (€), on 1 January 2002. Since then, the Austrian Mint has been minting both normal issues of Austrian euro coins (which are intended for circulation) and commemorative euro coins in gold and silver.
These commemorative coins are legal tender only in Austria, unlike the normal issues of the Austrian euro coins, which are legal tender in every country of the Eurozone. This means that the commemorative coins made of gold and silver cannot be used as money in other countries. Furthermore, as their bullion value generally exceeds their face value,Precious metals in bulk form are known as bullion, and are traded on international regulated markets. Bullion metals may be cast into ingots, or minted into coins. The defining attribute of bullion is that it is valued by its mass and purity rather than by its face value as money. these coins are not intended to be used as means of payment at all—although this remains possible where they are also legal tender. For this reason, they are usually named Collectors' coins.
Such coins usually commemorate the anniversaries of historical events. They can also draw attention to current events of special importance. Austria mints more than ten of these coins on average per year, in gold, silver and niobium, with face values ranging from €1.50 to €100 (though, as an exceptional case, 15 coins with face value €100,000 were minted in 2004).
Summary
As of 3 July 2008, eighty variations of Austrian commemorative coins have been minted: eleven in 2002, twelve in 2003, fourteen in 2004, thirteen in 2005, thirteen in 2006, nine in 2007 and eleven to date in 2008. These special high-value commemorative coins are not to be confused with €2 commemorative coins, which are coins designated for circulation and have legal-tender status in all countries of the Eurozone.
The following table shows the number of coins minted per year. In the first section, the coins are grouped by the metal used, while in the second section they are grouped by their face value.
Year Issues By metal By face value Gold Silver Others €100,000 €2,000 €100 €50 €25 €20 €10 €5 €4 €3 €1.50 2002 12 2003 12 2004 14 2005 13 2006 13 2007 13 2008 15 2009 15 2010 15 2011 15 2012 19 2013 19 2014 20 2015 20 2016 22 2017 26 2018 26 2019 26 2020 26 2021 26 2022 28 2023 26 2024 28
Vienna Philharmonic Coin
The Vienna Philharmonic coin is struck in pure gold, 999.9 fine (24 karats). It is issued every year, in four different face values, sizes and weights. It is used as an investment product (bullion coin), although it inevitably ends up in private collections. According to the World Gold Council, it was the best-selling gold coin worldwide in 1992, 1995 and 1996.
A design of musical instruments representing the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as the text Wiener Philharmoniker ("Vienna Philharmonic"), can be seen on the reverse of the coin.
The subject of the obverse is the great organ in the Golden Hall in Vienna's Musikverein, the concert hall of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The face value in euros, the weight, alloy purity and year of issue are also inscribed on this side of the coin.
Since 1 February 2008, the coin has also been minted in silver. The design of the silver coin is identical to that of the gold coin, except for its face value of 1.50 euros. Value: €100,000 Alloy: Au 999.9 (Gold) Designer: Thomas Pesendorfer Weight: Diameter: Thickness: There is no official thickness, this has been physically calculated. Year: 2004 Mintage: 15 coins Value: €100 Alloy: Au 999.9 (Gold) Designer: Thomas Pesendorfer Weight: Diameter: Thickness: Year: 2006 Mintage: 82,174 Year: 2005 Mintage: 158,564 Year: 2004 Mintage: 176,319 Year: 2003 Mintage: 179,881 Year: 2002 Mintage: 164,105 Value: €50 Alloy: Au 999.9 (Gold) Designer: Thomas Pesendorfer Weight: Diameter: Thickness: Year: 2006 Mintage: 20,085 Year: 2005 Mintage: 21,049 Year: 2004 Mintage: 24,269 Year: 2003 Mintage: 26,848 Year: 2002 Mintage: 40,922 Value: €25 Alloy: Au 999.9 (Gold) Designer: Thomas Pesendorfer Weight: Diameter: Thickness: Year: 2006 Mintage: 29,609 Year: 2005 Mintage: 32,817 Year: 2004 Mintage: 32,449 Year: 2003 Mintage: 34,019 Year: 2002 Mintage: 40,807 Value: €10 Alloy: Au 999.9 (Gold) Designer: Thomas Pesendorfer Weight: Diameter: Thickness: Year: 2006 Mintage: 39,892 Year: 2005 Mintage: 62,071 Year: 2004 Mintage: 67,994 Year: 2003 Mintage: 59,654 Year: 2002 Mintage: 75,789 Value: €1.50 Alloy: Ag 999 (Silver) Designer: Thomas Pesendorfer Weight: Diameter: Thickness: The silver Vienna Philharmonic is an investment coin (bullion coin). Its annual mintage is dependent on demand. Issue value: €19.25
2002 coinage
The Christian Religious Orders Designer: Helmut Andexlinger Mint: Münze Österreich AG Value: €50 Alloy: Au 986 (Gold) Quantity: 50,000 Quality: ProofThere are contradictions, even within the Austrian Mint, about the mintage quality of the gold coins. For this particular 50-euro gold coin, the Austrian Mint, in three different publications, has declared different quality types: Proof in the , Special Uncirculated in the and UNC in the Issued: 13 March 2002 Diameter: Weight: Issue value: €230.34 Market value: €200.00 Part of the collection "2000 Years of Christianity".
The coin shows a dual representation of St. Benedict and his sister, St. Scholastica. St. Benedict is the patron saint of Western Europe and the father of western monasticism. The directive for monastic life, Rule of St Benedict, initiated by St. Benedict in the sixth century is still valid today. Together with his sister, Benedict also founded an order of nuns who would follow the same instructions. The coin shows him holding the Holy Rule while St. Scholastica holds a dove.
The reverse of the coin shows a monk at a writing desk working on a manuscript. It represents the work of the monks in the Middle Ages copying books by hand, so preserving a large storehouse of knowledge. Ambras Castle Designer: Andreas I. Zanaschka & Herbert Wähner Mint: Münze Österreich AG Value: €10 Quality: Circulation UNC Frosted Proof Quantity: 130,000 20,000 50,000 Market value: ? €19.95 €99.95 Issued: 24 April 2002 Diameter: Weight: Alloy: Ag 925 (Silver) Part of the collection "Austria and her People – Part V".
On the obverse of the coin there is a view of the castle to the south of Innsbruck with its Renaissance-style precincts forming the central design. The inscription Republik Österreich can be seen at the top of the coin, while the face value of 10 euros and the issue date can be seen at the bottom.
On the reverse there is a representation of three court musicians crossing the Spanish Hall, based on a picture from 1569. 250th Anniversary of Vienna Zoo Designer: Herbert Wähner & Helmut Andexlinger Mint: Münze Österreich AG Value: €5 Alloy: Ag 800 (Silver) Quantity: 500,000 100,000 Quality: Circulation UNC Issued: 8 May 2002 Diameter: Weight: Market value: €49.95This price is for the four issues of the Zoo series, three coins in Austrian schillings and one in euro. This coin is the first issue of a new generation of five Austrian euro coins. It is nine-sided, symbolic of the nine federal provinces of Austria, showing each coat-of-arms encircling the denomination "5" with the inscription Republik Österreich and "euro".
The reverse shows the Emperor's Pavilion at the Vienna Zoo, surrounded by a diversity of animals. The dates "1752–2002", referring to the anniversary and the issue date of the coin, can be seen, as well as the text 250 Jahre Tiergarten Schönbrunn—the 250th anniversary of the Schönbrunn Zoo. Renaissance (Ferdinand I.) Designer: Herbert Wähner & Thomas Pesendorfer Mint: Münze Österreich AG Value: €20 Alloy: Ag 900 (Silver) Quantity: 50,000 Quality: Frosted Proof Issued: 12 June 2002 Diameter: Weight: Market value: €49.95 Part of the collection "Austria through the Ages".
The obverse of the coin shows the "Swiss Gate" in the Hofburg Palace in Vienna. Ferdinand enlarged the Hofburg and renovated it in the Renaissance style. Ferdinand's coat-of-arms and titles can be observed at the top of the gate. The two soldiers flanking the gate are a reminder of the unsettled times of 1529, during the Siege of Vienna.
The reverse of the coin shows a portrait of Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand I, brother of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and father of the Austrian line of the Habsburg dynasty. Eggenberg Palace Designer: Andreas I. Zanaschka & Thomas Pesendorfer Mint: Münze Österreich AG Value: €10 Quality: Circulation UNC Frosted Proof Quantity: 130,000 20,000 50,000 Market value: ? €32.50 €39.95 Issued: 10 September 2002 Diameter: Weight: Alloy: Ag 925 (Silver) Part of the collection "Austria and her People – Part V".
The obverse of the coin shows a frontal view of the castle. Built by Hans Ulrich von Eggenberg, the castle demonstrates several astronomical themes: four gigantic towers represent the four elements, 365 windows represent the days of the year, and 24 reception rooms represent the hours of a day. The construction was begun in 1625 and completed in 1642 (after Hans Ulrich's death).
The reverse of the coin has a portrait of the scholar and astronomer Johannes Kepler, a contemporary personally acquainted with von Eggenberg and most probably an influence on the design of the castle. In the foreground is Kepler's masterpiece, the model Mysterium Cosmographicum. Baroque Designer: Andreas I. Zanaschka & Thomas Pesendorfer Mint: Münze Österreich AG Value: €20 Alloy: Ag 900 (Silver) Quantity: 50,000 Quality: Frosted Proof Issued: 11 September 2002 Diameter: Weight: Market value: €49.95 Part of the collection "Austria through the Ages".
The obverse of the coin shows the Grand Staircase in the town palace of Prince Eugene of Savoy, currently the Austrian Ministry of Finance. Gods and demi-gods hold its elevations, while Hercules stands at the turn of the stairs.
The reverse of the coin displays a portrait of Prince Eugene, reminiscent of his equestrian statue in the grounds of the Hofburg Palace in Vienna. A typical Baroque arrangement of cannon, flags and captured standards decorates the background. Sculpture Designer: Herbert Wähner & Thomas Pesendorfer Mint: Münze Österreich AG Value: €100 Alloy: Au 986 (Gold) Quantity: 30,000 Quality: Proof Issued: 13 November 2002 Diameter: Weight: Issue value: €368.53 Market value: €300.00 Part of the collection "Art Treasures of Austria".
The obverse bears a portrait of one of the greatest Baroque sculptors, Georg Rafael Donner, with the Palace of the Lower Belvedere in the background. This palace is currently the Museum of Baroque Art in Vienna, and contains much of Donner's work.
The reverse features the Providentia Fountain (written in the coin as Provendentia Brunnen) in central Vienna, a work by the same sculptor. In the center of the coin, the allegorical figure of Providentia is displayed with a medallion of the Roman god Janus, who had two faces. Surrounding the fountain there are other symbolic figures representing the tributary rivers of the Danube; Providentia is enthroned high above the figure of an old man representing the Enns River.
2003 coinage