Wednesday, 19 December 2018

875) 825 Years of the Vienna Mint (1194-2018): A Silver Bullion Coin issued by the Austrian Mint, Vienna celebrating the milestone (issue date 12/12 - with year of issue engraved as 2019):

875)  825 Years of the Vienna Mint (1194-2018): A Silver Bullion Coin issued by the Austrian Mint, Vienna celebrating the milestone (issue date 12/12 - with year of issue engraved as 2019):


The Austrian Vienna Mint is celebrating 850 years of its establishment. Along with the Royal Mint, UK and the Monnaie de Paris, France mints, the Vienna Mint is one of the world's oldest established mints.

The Reverse of the commemorative Silver Bullion coin of 1.50 Euros depicting Duke Leopold V in full battle armour,  placed in the backdrop of the ruins of the defensive walls built by him with the first silver coin issues of the Vienna Mint in 1194

The story goes that in 1194 AD, when Richard the Lionheart of England was returning overland to England from the Crusades, he was captured and imprisoned by Duke Leopold V of Austria, to avenge an earlier insult to him by Richard.

Richard paid some 12 tonnes (or 35,000 kilograms) of silver to Duke Leopold to secure his freedom from a year of incarceration, and this set off the establishment/foundations of the Austrian Mint. 

Duke Leopold V decided to strike coins from the ransom money and in doing so, he set in motion  825 illustrious years of minting history in Vienna.

Duke Leopold spent the minted money to build new city walls for Vienna, to found the towns of Wiener Neustadt and Friedberg in Styria and to set up the Vienna Mint.

It was not for another 200 years, however, that the Vienna Mint was first mentioned in historical records/documents. Originally located near Hoher Markt, then in Wollzelle and later in Prince Eugene's winter palace in Himmelpfortgasse, since the first half of the 19th Century, the Mint has been functioning from Heumarkt in Central Vienna, where it has been functioning as a coining mint ever since.

During its existence, many different minting mthods have been employed at the Mint. 

Up to the 16th Century, the minting hammer was used for striking coins.The Roller Press, Rocker Press and Screw Press followed.

Since 1830, Ring Striking, which produces an even round shape is the method used. This method is still in use - present day - with slight modifications and latest machinery which can produce up to 750 coins per minute.

From the outset, the expert craftsmanship of the Vienna Mint also played a vital role in the production of prestigious and timeless coins of a very high quality and standard.

The engraving academy has been in existence since 1733 in Vienna and miniature works of art are still being created by its highly gifted, innovative and competent/experienced designers. 

Over the years, mints were established and coins struck throughout Austria in towns and cities like - Graz, Krems, Salsburg, Innsbruck and Villach.

Nevertheless, with the formation of the Republic of Austria in 1918, the Vienna Principal Mint became the country's one and only mint and remains so today.

In 1989, its name was officially changed to the Austrian Mint and it became a subsidiary of the Austrian National Bank.

One of the Austrian Mint's most internationally recognised coins is the Maria Theresa Taler. Originating in 1780, the year Empress Maria Theresa passed away, even today, the Maria Theresa Taler is not only the most famous silver coin in the world, but also boasts of being minted in the greatest numbers. Such international successes have made the Austrian Mint something of an Ambassador for Austria.

Another prime example is the world famous Golden Vienna Philharmonic Coin, which is one of the most popular gold bullion coins world-wide. It has played a vital role in the development of the Austrian Mint into a highly successful company today.


    An image of the Vienna Philharmonic Gold Bullion Coin

The Vienna Mint's innovative coins - the Silver-Niobium masterpieces brought out every year, the exquisitely engraved/crafted gold and silver issues are highly sought after by investors and collectors all over the world and have been awarded prizes in several categories in the prestigious "Coin Of The Year (COTY" Awards practically every year, some of which I have written on. The detailed posts can be visited through the links placed at the end of this post.

The Austrian Mint presently employs over 200 personnel and produces over 450 million coins a year in an environment friendly, ecological, ethical and technical way.

The Commemorative Coin:

On the Reverse of the Silver Bullion Coin is seen Duke Leopold V, holding an unsheathed sword in hand, in full crusader armour.

The date in numerals "1194" , the year the Austrian Mint first minted coins is the only inscription on this face.


On the Obverse of the Silver Bullion Coin is the image of a knight on horse-back holding a long-shield in his left arm and a banner/flag in his right hand. 

On the upper periphery is the name of the issuing country "REPUBLIK OSTERREICH" (meaning "Republic of Austria"). Below the horse is mentioned the denomination of the coin "1.50 EURO" and "1 UNZE FEINSILVER" (meaning "one ounce fine silver"). The year  "2019" appears towards the right, behind the horse's rear hooves.

The specifications of this coin are:

Denomination: 1.50 Euro; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 1 Oz or 31.1 grams; Diameter/Size: 37.0 mm; Mint: Austrian Mint, Vienna; Mintage: 100,000 pieces (available in rolls of 20 pieces each and boxes of 500 pieces, along with single coin issues); Coin Quality: Brilliant Uncirculated. 






Links to posts on Austrian Mint Coin issues on this blog:











For posts on COTY (Coin of the Year) winners since 2015 in a competition held by Krause Publications of Germany, please visit the following links:

Links to posts on Federal Republic of Germany issues and other posts on this blog:








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