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.

The new 100 Euro coin which was designed by Helmut Andexlinger, is struck exclusively in proof quality (reversed frosting) and in ducat gold (986 fine). The obverse depicts the crown itself resting on the cushion of state, upon which it was carried in procession in the palace and through the streets to the cathedral and back. The solemn procession is the theme of the reverse side of the coin. We see three high officials of the Lower Austrian Estates bearing the crown, orb and sceptre on cushions of state along the street known as the Graben (originally a defensive ditch outside the ancient Roman fortress). The periwigs and clothing of the officials point to the early 1700s. Soldiers line the processional route with a drummer beating a solemn rhythm. In the background rises the Baroque plague column erected in 1692, which can still be admired today on the Graben in Vienna.

The maximum mintage for this new issue is 30,000 pieces worldwide. Each coin comes in an attractive box accompanied by a numbered certificate of authenticity and a gold-plated lapel pin in the form of the archducal crown. A prestigious case for the whole collection of five coins may be acquired separately.

The series will continue in 2010 with the Hungarian Crown of St. Stephen, in 2011 with the Bohemian (Czech) Crown of St. Wenceslas and it will conclude in 2012 with the Imperial Crown of the Austrian Empire.

Related posts:

1. Austrian Mint Issues 5 Euro Silver Coin Honoring Great Conductor
2. 2009 American Buffalo Gold Proof Coin to be Released by U.S. Mint on October 29th
3. United States Mint Spring Catalog Released April 18

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.

Berger and his team decided that music was the ideal theme for their new coin. Austria was internationally renowned for its music, but they decided against the portrayal of one of the many great composers like Mozart, Haydn or Strauss. That would make the coin appear like a commemorative edition for collectors. Instead they chose a living and world-famous musical institution: the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. To their delight the members of the orchestra enthusiastically endorse this choice, freely grant the use of their name. The engraver, Thomas Pesendorfer, designed a collection of instruments to represent the orchestra itself and for the other side of the coin he took the great pipe organ of the Golden Hall in Vienna where the orchestra plays at home. It is seen on television around the world every year on 1st January during the New Year’s Day Concert.

The new Austrian coin was launched in Vienna on 10th October and was an immediate success. The demand in the home market was nothing less than ferocious. In two and a half months 419,000 ounces were sold, achieving with one blow an 18% world market share for the entire year 1989! It rapidly established itself as a serious participant in the international gold market. In 1992 and again in 1995, 1996 and 2000 the Vienna Philharmonic was ranked by the World Gold Council as the top selling gold bullion coin worldwide. In 2008 the Vienna Philharmonic continued to rank No. 1 in Europe and in Japan, and with a year’s market share of 25% it came in 3rd worldwide narrowly missing 2nd place. The “indulgent smiles” have long since disappeared.

A 1/10 ounce in 1991 and a ½ ounce coin in 1994 completed the traditional family of four sizes. In 2008 a silver 1 ounce Vienna Philharmonic was added to the investment range with resounding success.

Looking back on 20 years of continual growth and success, the Vienna Philharmonic has established itself firmly as one of the four great gold bullion coins offered on the international market of today. This one-time issue of a limited number of 20 ounce gold coins is but a fitting tribute to a 20 year long success story that shows no signs of letting up in the near future.

Related posts:

1. Last of the Austrian Mint’s “Vienna Jugendstil” Series
2. Austrian Mint Issues 5 Euro Silver Coin Honoring Great Conductor
3. Gold touches 27-year high of $746.30 an ounce; silver surges nearly 3%

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.

Related posts:

1. Austrian Mint issues Bi-Metalic Silver/Niobium Coin honoring Chemist
2. Austrian Mint Issues 5 Euro Silver Coin Honoring Great Conductor
3. Second Largest Gold Nugget in the World On Display at Perth Mint

On the occasion of his death in 1989 the New York Times characterised Karajan as “probably the world’s best-known conductor and one of the most powerful figures in classical music.”

As a child he already showed great talent on the piano. He studied at the Salzburg Mozarteum and later at the university and academies in Vienna. His first public performance (as a “trail-conductor”) was in 1929 with the Mozarteum Orchestra in Salzburg. In 1930 he became the conductor and musical director at the City Theatre in Ulm.

During the war Karajan’s membership in the Nazi Party protected his career and his part-Jewish wife, but it proved a hindrance after 1945, despite his acquittal by the Austrian denazification examining board. Nevertheless, he conducted in Milan and in London as well as at the Lucerne Festival. In 1955 he was appointed the music director of the Berlin Philharmonic for life. In Vienna he conducted the world famous Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and at the Vienna Opera, as well as at the Salzburg Festival, where he also established Easter Festival.

Karajan was recognised worldwide as a masterly conductor. Although he conducted (and recorded) all the great composers, he was especially associated with the performance of the works of Beethoven, all of which he put on record. In 1972 The Council of Europe commissioned him to arrange Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” from the Ninth Symphony as the European anthem. Karajan was also instrumental in the development of the compact disk, lending his prestige and endorsement to the recording and sale of CDs.

The nine-sided silver coin shows a portrait of Herbert von Karajan in one of his well-known dramatic poses while conducting. It is based on a photo portrait. In the background are the notes of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony; a reference to his arrangement of the European anthem. The small Euro-star logo marks this coin as Austria’s contribution to the 2008 Europa Silver Series which is marketed from a partnership of European mints. The other side of the coin bears the face value of “5” encircled by the shields of the nine federal provinces of Austria.

There will be 100,000 coins in special uncirculated quality for collectors; 75,000 in informative blister packs, and 25,000 for the Europa series.

Related posts:

1. Austrian Mint issues Bi-Metalic Silver/Niobium Coin honoring Chemist
2. Austrian Mint Releases “Abbey of Klosterneuburg” Silver Commemorative
3. Europe Taler – World’s Largest Silver Coin from The Austrian Mint

When one travels down the Danube, whether by river or by land, just before reaching Vienna one encounters the town of Klosterneuburg nestling around the ancient abbey on the heights overlooking the Danube Valley. Since the year 1114 canons regular have been living here according to the Rule of St. Augustine. This abbey is the fifth coin in the Austrian Mint’s silver series “Great Abbeys of Austria” and will be issued on 16th April, 2008.

The Augustinian abbey of Klosterneuburg was founded in 1114 by Margrave Leopold III (who was subsequently canonised and ranks as the patron saint of Austria). The famous legend is that Leopold’s wife, Agnes, lost a precious scarf in the wind which Leopold himself found some years later while hunting. A vision of the Virgin Mary is supposed to have instructed him to found an abbey on that spot. The legend is, of course, romance, although the scarf does still exist in actual fact. St. Leopold is buried in the crypt of the church under the winged altar known as the Verduner Altar, consisting of some 45 gilded and enamelled panels with scenes from the Bible and dating from the end of the 12th century.

The abbey almost died out in the time of the Reformation, but was restored and invigorated by Provost Caspar Christiani (1578-1584). In 1683 Turkish troops besieging Vienna also attacked Klosterneuburg, but Provost William Lebsaft together with the canons and townspeople managed to repulse them without outside assistance.

In 1730 Emperor Charles VI visited Klosterneuburg and decided to rebuild the abbey as a Baroque palace complex of four courtyards and seven crowned domes incorporating the Augustinian abbey with his own imperial residence on the model of the Spanish Escorial outside Madrid. The unexpected death of the Emperor in 1740 brought construction to a halt, and to this day Klosterneuburg remains an unfinished masterpiece of Baroque architecture with only one courtyard completed.

The greatest threat to the abbey developed under the Nazis in the 20th century. In 1941 it was dissolved. Some of the canons were sent off as parish priests, some were sent into the army, some were incarcerated as resistance fighters, and some were executed.

Today Klosterneuburg has some 47 canons regular. It has recently renovated and enlarged its museum which attracts thousands of tourists every year. Like most abbeys in Austria, Klosterneuburg has important collections of artworks, books, coins and medals, as well as thriving vineyards.

The new silver € 10.- coin shows a view of the abbey on the obverse. One clearly sees the Romanesque and Gothic church. Behind it are the Baroque buildings and domes of the abbey. The crown of the Holy Roman Empire adorns the central copper dome.

The reverse shows the Gothic cloisters with a stained glass window of St. Leopold III in the foreground. As with previous coins in this series, the chief engraver of the mint, Thomas Pesendorfer, has managed to achieve an almost three dimensional depth in the line of the mediaeval cloisters.

The new coin with a face value of 10 Euro is struck in three qualities: proof (max. 60,000 pieces), special uncirculated (max. 40,000 pieces), and circulation quality (130,000 pieces) which are issued at face value through the banks. Each proof coin comes in an attractive box with a numbered certificate of authenticity, while the special uncirculated version is sold in a colourful and informative blister pack.

The series “Great Abbeys of Austria” will conclude in October with a coin for the Benedictine abbey of Seckau in Styria.

Kerry R.J. Tattersall
Marketing Director,
Austrian Mint, Vienna

Related posts:

1. Austrian Mint Issues 5 Euro Silver Coin Honoring Great Conductor
2. Austrian Mint issues Bi-Metalic Silver/Niobium Coin honoring Chemist
3. United States Mint Releases Guam Commemorative Quarter May 26