A Hat fit for a Prince The Crown of an Austrian Archduke

The second 100 Euro coin in the gold series “Crowns of the House of Habsburg” will be released on Wednesday, 4th November. It is dedicated to the so-called “Archduke’s Hat”, a name derived from the red velvet cap within the crown itself.

The title of archduke was invented by Rudolf IV in the spurious document of 1358/59 called the privilegium maius. It was an attempt to assert the status of the House of Habsburg as the equal of any Prince Elector of the Holy Roman Empire. There exists a mediaeval portrait of Rudolf wearing a crown similar to the Archduke’s Hat. Early versions of the crown have not survived, being either broken up or melted down. In 1616, however, Archduke Maximilian III of Tyrol had the present Archduke’s Hat fashioned and he gave it to the Augustinian Abbey of Klosterneuburg just outside Vienna in honour of St. Leopold, whose tomb and shrine are still situated there to this day. The crown was not worn as such. There was no coronation. It was rather a symbol of authority and rank. It was brought into Vienna only for the ceremony of homage paid by the Estates of Lower Austria on the accession of a new Habsburg ruler. Even today the crown is not permitted to be outside the walls of the abbey for more than 30 days at a time.

The Archduke’s Hat is a diadem of eight golden peaks decorated with enamel, pearls and precious stones. Two pearl encrusted arches hold a sapphire mounted by a cross at their intersection. In the crown itself is a red velvet cap and the diadem is embedded in a circle of ermine, copying the hats worn by the Prince Electors. On the accession of a new ruler the crown was brought in procession into Vienna, conveyed in its own sedan chair. Along with other pieces of regalia such as orb and sceptre, it was presented to the new ruler and then carried in solemn procession from the palace to St. Stephen’s Cathedral for High Mass. (more…)

Twenty years ago in 1989 the Austrian State Mint passed from the Treasury into the ownership of the central bank. The mint was given the freedom to produce and sell products in accordance with the demands of the modern numismatic and investment markets. One of the very first innovations introduced by the new CEO, Paul Berger, was the production of a gold bullion coin for investment purposes: the Vienna Philharmonic.

On 16th October this year a limited quantity of 6,027 Vienna Philharmonic coins, each weighing 20 ounces of fine gold, will go on sale in Europe, America and Japan.

20 ounces to commemorate 20 years!

Why the odd number? The mint decided to offer 2009 coins (the date of the 20th anniversary) in its three major markets: in Europe, in America and in Japan. Investors still remember the 15 giant coins (each of 1,000 ounces) that celebrated the fifteenth anniversary in 2004, and that entered the Guinness Book of Records as the then largest gold coin in the world. All 15 giant coins were snapped up within days, and the excitement surrounding this special issue of a 20 ounce coin promises a similar market reaction.

The new 20 ounce coin has a diameter of 74 mm and a thickness of 8.3 mm and is housed in a prestigious wooden and red velvet case. Pre-orders for this unique anniversary gold coin have already started pouring into the mint in Vienna. It promises to be a major success as indeed the past 20 years of the Austrian bullion programme have been.

The Vienna Philharmonic Story

The decision in 1989 to issue a gold bullion coin in the two weights of 1 ounce and ¼ ounce was greeted with indulgent smiles. Austria, a small central European country since the destruction of her empire in 1918 and without any gold mining industry to support, was entering the bullion market, long dominated by the Krugerrand and that time divided between the USA, Canada and Western Australia.
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Canada may have the largest Gold coin, but the Austrian Mint has just released the Worlds Largest Silver Coin, the Europe Talar. Weighing in at 20.08 kg (aprox. 44 lbs.), and with a diameter of 36 cm (14 inches); it is big!

The obverse of the taler features a classic look and corresponds to the time of Maximilian in 1508. It shows the newly crowned emperor mounted in armour on a horse; in his hand he holds a banner with the imperial symbol, the double eagle.

The reverse has a more contemporary look and depicts a montage of famous europeans including religious icon Martin Luther, and continuing with composer Antonio Vivaldi, inventor James Watt and Nobel Peace prize winner Bertha von Suttner.

The Europe Talar will be limited to Special Orders. Prices have not been announced yet.

However, Region Hall-Wattens and the Austrain Mint have set up a website for additional information on the Europe Talar in addition to offering a collectors version of the coin, weighing in a at 120 grams of fine silver with a diameter of 6cm. The collectors coins will cost € 108.– + VAT.

Visit the website at http://www.europataler.at

This new site also provides some background on the Europe Talar.

The design of the coin and the realization of the coin images originate from the medallion maker Herbert Wähner, who is also very well-known in expert circles. The packaging of the “silver giant” will be produced by the Hall master wood turner Werner Nuding from 500-year old wood from Castle Hasegg, which was unearthed during renovations in 2007.