While possible to buy individual gold coins from the Austrian Mint, some of its most famous designs have been issued as collections.
Collectors enjoy obtaining a complete collection due to the joy of the hunt, and the satisfaction of having an entire set to study. Also, a full complement of a series of coins will be worth more as a whole, than piece by piece.
In this section we will explore some of the more famous offerings from the Austrian Mint:
Vienna Philharmonic Gold Coins
Obverse
The obverse side of the coin displays the fantastic pipe organ in the Golden Hall in Vienna's concert hall, the home of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Also featured on this side are the weight, face value in Austrian Schillings (2002 and earlier) and Euros from 2002 onwards, fineness of gold and the year of issue.
Reverse
An intricate and detailed engraving of musical instruments representing the world-famous Vienna Philharmonic: The Vienna horn, bassoon, harp, and four violins placed around a cello.
This intricate engraving also contains the words ‘Wiener Philharmoniker’ meaning the Vienna Philharmonic in German.
25TH Anniversary of the Vienna Philharmonic Gold Coin
The Gold Vienna Philharmonics were released as a set of one ounce and quarter ounce proof quality coins to celebrate their 25th anniversary. This collection is viewed by many collectors as the peak collection of Gold Vienna Philharmonics due to their rarity and quality.
Check out this video to see a real unboxing of Austrian Silver Coins (2018 Silver Philharmonic Edition)
‘Klimt And His Women’ Series Coins
Gustav Klimt, the legendary Austrian artist, was celebrated in this five 10g Gold coin series from the Austrian Mint which was released in 2012, 150 years after his birth.
The coins focus on some of his most famous works, his pieces on women which are all paintings with his unique art nouveau style, and even including one-time most expensive painting to be sold, and a famous piece that was destroyed during the Second World War.
The coins each feature a letter from the name Klimt, making them a natural collection.
Portrait Of Adele Bloch-Bauer
Featuring the wife of a wealthy patron in an enigmatic pose, this portrait was the most expensive painting ever to be sold, fetching $135 million when sold at the Neue Galerie in New York in 2006. This vies with ‘The Kiss’ as being Klimt’s most famous work.
Obverse
Adele Bloch-Bauer portrait. ‘K’ motif.
Reverse
Klimt portrait
The Expectation
This coin celebrates one of Klimt’s most famous depictions of women again, with a female figure in an expectant pose, painted in an Egyptian style with Klimt’s trademark swirling style around it.
Obverse
Tree of life
Reverse
Egyptian style frieze from Palais Stoclet in Brussels. ‘L’ motif.
Judith II
The 50 Euro Judith II gold coin won ‘most artistic coin’ in the COTY awards 2016.
This depiction of Judith, saviour of the Israelites, casts her in a savage and thought-provoking pose. It also depicts his ‘Nuda Veritas’ holding the mirror of truth.
Obverse
Nuda Veritas from Klimt’s golden phase.
Reverse
Judith II clutching head of Assyrian general. ‘I’ motif.
Medicine
Painted between 1900 and 1907 to decorate the ceiling of the assembly hall of the University of Vienna, Gustav Klimt’s Faculty Paintings were the Viennese master’s last public commission. He refused payment or to deliver the artworks after they were criticised by the public for being pornographic, and this piece was unfortunately destroyed by the Nazis in 1945.
This coin depicts the female faculty of Medicine, Hygieia, daughter of the Greek god of medicine.
Obverse
Eumenides, Greek deity of vengeance
Reverse
Medicine, faculty painting, with snake and cup. ‘M’ motif.
The Kiss
Many experts believe the man in The Kiss is Klimt himself and that the woman he is kissing is Emile Flöge, Klimt’s partner in real life. It is unsurprising that he chose his lover to represent in paintings that became famous for their celebration of women. This is arguably Klimt’s best-loved and most famous work.
Obverse
Portrait of Emile Flöge and the artist himself
Reverse
Famous kiss between Flöge and a man seen as being Klimt. ‘T’ motif.
Gold Ducats, Gulden, and Crowns
Investors will be interested in these particular Gold coins from the Austrian Mint. Minted in Gold of a very high purity, the Ducats, Gulden, and Crowns (Coronas) come in different sizes and denominations, and are as much a great investment as they are an interesting piece of history.
Ducats were issued by Austria in 1612, and probably earlier. The Austrian Mint ceased issuing ducat coins in 1914 during the last years of Franz Joseph I, emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
All the ducats dated 1915 are restrikes, of which there were 996,721 struck between 1920 and 1936. One of the ducat coins dated 1915 are still being produced by the Austrian Mint as official restrikes. Ducats were produced with a very high purity gold, 23 3/4 carats, making them among the highest purity gold coins ever issued for circulation.
Obverse
The bare head, facing right, of Emperor Franz Joseph I
Reverse
House of Habsburg’s coat of arms
Austrian Crown (Corona)
Long before Krugerrands appeared, Austria was already producing a sizeable gold coin, the One Hundred Coronas. In the typical Austrian tradition, after the death of Franz Joseph in 1916, official restrikes were issued as commemorative pieces, all bearing the date 1915. The original coins were issued between 1908 and 1914, bearing their date of issue.
The corona as a denomination began with the monetary reform of 1892, until Austria became a republic in 1918. These coins replaced Guldens as Austria’s coinage at the end of the 19th Century.
Obverse
The bare head, facing right, of Emperor Franz Joseph I
Reverse
The coat of arms of Austria overlapping a crowned double-headed Imperial eagle
Austrian Gulden
The Gulden is Austria’s version of the Florin, a monetary unit used in France, Belgium, Italy, and Switzerland in the 19th Century. Struck in Gold, these coins were used in circulation up until 1892, when they were replaced by the Corona.
Obverse
The laureate head, facing right, of Emperor Franz Joseph I
Reverse
The arms of Austria superimposed upon a crowned double-headed Imperial eagle - IMPERIUM AUSTRIACUM
‘Wildlife in our sights’ 0.5oz Gold Proof 100 Euro Coins
Perfect for investors as well as collectors who appreciate intricate, beautiful, craftsmanship; the Austrian Mint's 'Wildlife in our sights' collection of Gold coins is a must have.
These six beautiful animals are native to Europe and can be found in Austria to this day, and their likenesses are displayed in glorious poses showing their character and charm; all the more impressive considering that it is crafted in metal.
Fans of the animals themselves will appreciate that obverse features a charming scene of the animals in situ with their lovely youngsters, and the reverse displays a close up of the animal itself, both in stunning detail.
The Alpine Ibex
A fantastic animal, the Alpine Ibex fought its way back from near-extinction, and can be seen in central Europe’s mountains. This coin displays their fantastic horns and mountainous home in intricate detail.
The Fox
Everyone is familiar with foxes which thrive in both urban and countryside environments. This coin captures their charm and noble bearing.
The Capercaillie
The largest member of the Grouse family is unfortunately not found in many parts of Europe now, but it’s still found in Austria. This coin shows the Capercaillie in its unique mating pose.
The Wild Boar
Wild boars are nocturnal and will rarely be seen despite being fairly common in woodland throughout the continent. The coin shows the boar’s intelligence and character, and its hoglets are particularly cute.
The Red Deer
Considered one of Europe’s most noble creatures, the coin shows the red deer buck bellowing during the mating season, and a pretty scene of a deer family together in the woods too.
‘Crowns of the House of Habsburg’ series 0.5oz Gold Proof 100 Euro Coins
Celebrating Austria’s illustrious history and its historical status as the centre of the Austro-Hungarian and Holy Roman Empires, the Austrian mint have made a collection of five beautifully ornate crown-themed coins, featuring some of the most famous crowns from these time periods.
The Imperial Crown
Originally the personal crown of Emperor Rudolph II, the Imperial Crown of Austria is possibly the most important and well-known crown to all Austrians.
The Crown of St Wenceslas
King Wenceslas, the Duke of Bohemia, originally owned this crown, and was sainted following his assassination in AD 935. Worn by King Rudolph II, this crown is important because he wore it while overseeing the Imperial court’s movement from Vienna to Prague.
The Crown of Holy Roman Empire
Dating from AD 965, the Crown of the Holy Roman Empire was once among the most coveted in Europe, wanted by Henry VIII and Napoleon amongst others.
The Hungarian Crown of St Stephen
An unusual crown with its unique bent cross, the crown of St Stephen the first Christian Hungarian ruler, or ‘Latin Crown,’ traditionally belongs to the ruler of Hungary.
The Archducal Crown of Austria
Unique in that this crown was only used symbolically, and not actually worn in coronations, it was the official ‘hat’ of the Archduke, ruler of the Habsburgs.
The ‘Vienna Schools of Psychotherapy’ 50 Euro 0.25 oz Proof Gold Coins
One might be forgiven for struggling to see beyond music and history when thinking of Austria, but some of the world’s finest psychiatrical minds are also Austrian!
Sigmund Freud 50 Euro 0.25 oz Proof Gold Coins
Born in Czechia, but a naturalised Austrian, Freud was responsible for some of the world’s more groundbreaking psychoanalytic thought. Father of the often-used terms: ‘Oedipus complex’, ‘super ego’, and ‘libido,’ Freud’s likeness is quite extraordinary, based on a real photograph from 1926. This three coin series was only released in 2017 and so far the coin celebrating Sigmund Freud is available.
‘Celebrated Physicians of Austria’ 50 Euro 10g Proof Gold Coins
Austria also has a long history in the medical world, and this coin series celebrates some famous Austrian doctors who, between them, revolutionised medicine.
Clemens von Pirquet
This coin displays a portrait of Baron Clemens von Pirquet, the founder of the study of allergies.
The global insignia of medicine, the staff of Aesculapius, features on each coin in this medical series.
Theodor Billroth
Theodor Billroth is one of Austria’s most famous surgeons who pioneered abdominal surgery, the use of antiseptics in hospitals to reduce infection, and the training of nurses to a high standard.
Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis
Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis was a champion of women’s medicine, and saved countless mother and infant’s lives through his promotion of doctors and medical staff disinfecting their hands when delivering children.
Gerard van Swieten
Court physician of famed Empress Maria Theresa, Gerard van Swieten was a naturalised Dutchman who founded the world-famous First Vienna School of Medicine, an institution which spawned many great medical minds and techniques.
