994) 300 Years of Liechtenstein: Five Commemorative Coins issued in 04/2019, celebrating the milestone - 5 and 10 Franc Silver variants and 10, 25 and100 Franc Gold variants: Coins issued by Coin Invest Trust:
On 23.01.1719, The Holy Roman Emperor decreed a new Principality within his domain - "Liechtenstein" - after his "true servant, Anton Florian of Liechtenstein".
In 2019, the country is celebrating its 300th Anniversary of its establishment/creation.
To mark the ter-centenary, five commemorative coins have been brought out by Liechtenstein's very own Coin Invest Trust.
The Five Coins (3 Gold and 2 Silver) and one stamp Jubilee set (Open)
The Jubilee set custom case - closed
The official currency of the Principality is Swiss Franc. Commemorative coins are issued only occasionally and only with the consent of the Swiss Department of Finance. The last such commemorative coin was struck in 2006.
Liechtenstein's origins date back to well before 1719. The family originally came from Liechtenstein Castle in Lower Austria. Although they possessed the castle from around 1140 AD, they were never in a position to qualify for a seat in the Diet of the Holy Roman Empire. All their property was held in tenure from other more senior feudal lords. To qualify for senior ranking, they needed lands held directly from the Holy Roman Emperor.
In 1699, Prince Florian of Castle Liochtenstein was allowed to purchase the miniscule Herrschaft (Lordship) of Schellenberg.
In 1712, he acquired the similarly insignificant adjacent county of Vaduz. Both properties owed allegiance to the Emperor alone. Size did not matter. In due course, the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles VI, issued his decree to unite Vaduz and Schellenburg as the Principality of Liechtenstein and Florian got his seat on the Diet.
Since then, the country has had its ups and downs. In the 19th Century, it was overrun by Napoleon along with the rest of Europe.
When Emperor Francis II abdicated, Lichtenstein lost its feudal lord. It became a sovereign state.
In 1806, when Napoleon reorganised the old Holy Roman Empire into the Confederation of the Rhine, the Prince of Liechtenstein now became a vassal of the new emperor, a condition that lasted till 1813.
In 1815, Liechtenstein joined the German Confederation and in 1818, its Prince granted the country a limited constitution. In the same year, Prince Aloys became the first member of the Lichtenstein family to set foot in the family's Principality. The next Princely visit happened only in 1842.
The country remained closely tied to Austria until the end of WWI.
In 1924, it concluded a Customs and Monetary Union (CMU) with its other neighbour - Switzerland - which led to its present day currency being the Swiss Franc.
During WWII, Liechtenstein followed Switzerland's lead and remained officially neutral. However, at the end of WWII, it was in dire financial straits. To stay afloat, the family sold many artistic treasures, including a da Vinci, to the USA's National Gallery of Art in 1967 for $5 million.
Despite the confiscation of numerous estates in surrounding countries, matters were soon turned around. Liechtenstein established very low corporate tax rates and by the 1970s, many companies had relocated their head offices to Lichtenstein, making it one of the wealthiest countries in the world.
Presently, Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein is listed as the eighth richest monarch in the world and the country's population enjoys one of the world's highest standards of living.
Significantly, Liechtenstein is the only monarchy of the Holy Roman Empire which still exists.
The Five Commemorative Coins and the embroidered stamp issued to commemorate 300 Years of the establishment of Lichentstein as a Principality:
The five Commemorative Coins consist of a Silver 5 Franken, 2 Silver 10 Franken, 1 Gold 10 Franken, 1 Gold 25 Franken and a gold 100 Franken.
All the coins are struck in high-relief Smartminting and all have a common Obverse and Reverse.
The Obverses show a full-length bust of Prince Anton Florian, the first Imperial Prince to rule over Liechtenstein.
The Reverses show the Country's Coat of Arms.
The specifications of the various variants are:
5 Franken Silver Coin:
Diameter/Size:38.61 mm; Weight: 31.1 grams or 1.0 Oz; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Denomination: 5 Franken; Coin Quality: Proof; Minted by: Coin Invest Trust; Minting Process: High Relief Smartminting; Mintage: 7.500 pieces; Year: 2019.
10 Franken Silver Coin:
Diameter/Size: 38.61 mm; Weight: 62.2 grams or 2 Oz; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Denomination: 10 Franken; Coin Quality: Proof; Minted by: Coin Invest Trust; Minting Process: High Relief Smartminting; Mintage: 1719 pieces; Year: 2019.
10 Franken Gold Coin:
Diameter/Size: 11.0 mm; Weight: 0.5 grams; Metal Composition: .9999 Fineness Gold (Ag); Denomination: 10 Franken; Coin Quality: Proof; Minted By: Coin Invest Trust; Minting Process: High Relief Smartminting; Mintage: 15,000 pieces; Year: 2019.
25 Franken Gold Coin:
Diameter/Size: 22.5 mm; Weight: 1/4 Oz; Metal Composition: .9999 Fineness Gold (Ag); Coin Quality: Proof; Minted By: Coin Invest Trust; Minting Process: High Relief Smartminting; Mintage: 999 pieces; Year: 2019.
100 Franken Gold Coin:
Diameter/Size: 33.0 mm; Weight: 31.1 grams or 1 Oz; Metal Composition: .9999 Fineness Gold (Ag); Coin Quality: Proof; Minted By: Coin Invest Trust; Minting Process: High Relief Smartminting; Mintage: 300 pieces; Year: 2019.
From the Collection of Jayant Biswas:
Jayant was the first collector in India, to receive this 5 Swiss Franc Silver Coin and 6.5 embroidered stamp set from the Swiss Mint, within a week of its release by the Mint, and he has sent to me the following images of the Coin & Stamp set:
This face of the coin set album shows the 6.30 Swiss Franc Embroidered Stamp and the Obverse of the 5 Swiss Franc Silver Coin depicting the Emblem of Liechtenstein.
This face is titled "300 Jahre/Years of Furstentum Liechtenstein" (meaning "300 Years of the Principality of Liechtenstein). "Sonderausgabe/Special Edition".
Below the Stamp is inscribed: "CHF 6.30, Stickerei-Briefmarke Embroidery Stamp".
Further below is mentioned - CHF 5. SILBER.1 UNZE/Silver, 1 Ounce".
On the stamp is embroidered - "630 FURSTENTUM LIECHTENSTEIN".
On the Obverse of the 5 Franc Silver Coin is seen an image of the Emblem of Leichtenstein. On the upper periphery is the inscription "FURSTENTUM LIECHTENSTEIN" and on the lower periphery is the denomination of the coin "FUNF FRANKEN". Below the coin is mentioned "CHF 5.00, SILBER. 1 UNZE/silver.1 Ounce".
On this page of the Coin album is mentioned:
"In 1719, Prince Anton Florian (1656-1721) became the first Prince of Liechtenstein. Thanks to the Prince's political prowess, Emperor Charles VI elevated the joint domain of Seigneury of Schellenberg and County of Vaduz to the status of imperial immediacy on 23 January 1719, thereby irreversibly creating the sovereign Principality of Liechtenstein."
The Reverse of the Five Franc Silver Coin is inscribed on the side to upper periphery "300 JAHRE FURSTENTUM LIECHTENSTEIN. 1719-2019" and depicts a left facing portrait of Prince Anton Florian.
The Obverse of the 5 Franc Silver Coin is titled "FURSTENTUM LIECHTENSTEIN" on the upper periphery and "FUNF FRANKEN" (meaning "5 Franc") on the lower periphery.
The other variants in this Coin Set:
The Reverse of the 10 Franc Silver Coin exhibits the same features as the 5 Franc Silver Coin on this face.
The official currency of the Principality is Swiss Franc. Commemorative coins are issued only occasionally and only with the consent of the Swiss Department of Finance. The last such commemorative coin was struck in 2006.
Liechtenstein's origins date back to well before 1719. The family originally came from Liechtenstein Castle in Lower Austria. Although they possessed the castle from around 1140 AD, they were never in a position to qualify for a seat in the Diet of the Holy Roman Empire. All their property was held in tenure from other more senior feudal lords. To qualify for senior ranking, they needed lands held directly from the Holy Roman Emperor.
In 1699, Prince Florian of Castle Liochtenstein was allowed to purchase the miniscule Herrschaft (Lordship) of Schellenberg.
In 1712, he acquired the similarly insignificant adjacent county of Vaduz. Both properties owed allegiance to the Emperor alone. Size did not matter. In due course, the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles VI, issued his decree to unite Vaduz and Schellenburg as the Principality of Liechtenstein and Florian got his seat on the Diet.
Since then, the country has had its ups and downs. In the 19th Century, it was overrun by Napoleon along with the rest of Europe.
When Emperor Francis II abdicated, Lichtenstein lost its feudal lord. It became a sovereign state.
In 1806, when Napoleon reorganised the old Holy Roman Empire into the Confederation of the Rhine, the Prince of Liechtenstein now became a vassal of the new emperor, a condition that lasted till 1813.
In 1815, Liechtenstein joined the German Confederation and in 1818, its Prince granted the country a limited constitution. In the same year, Prince Aloys became the first member of the Lichtenstein family to set foot in the family's Principality. The next Princely visit happened only in 1842.
The country remained closely tied to Austria until the end of WWI.
In 1924, it concluded a Customs and Monetary Union (CMU) with its other neighbour - Switzerland - which led to its present day currency being the Swiss Franc.
During WWII, Liechtenstein followed Switzerland's lead and remained officially neutral. However, at the end of WWII, it was in dire financial straits. To stay afloat, the family sold many artistic treasures, including a da Vinci, to the USA's National Gallery of Art in 1967 for $5 million.
Despite the confiscation of numerous estates in surrounding countries, matters were soon turned around. Liechtenstein established very low corporate tax rates and by the 1970s, many companies had relocated their head offices to Lichtenstein, making it one of the wealthiest countries in the world.
Presently, Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein is listed as the eighth richest monarch in the world and the country's population enjoys one of the world's highest standards of living.
Significantly, Liechtenstein is the only monarchy of the Holy Roman Empire which still exists.
The Five Commemorative Coins and the embroidered stamp issued to commemorate 300 Years of the establishment of Lichentstein as a Principality:
The five Commemorative Coins consist of a Silver 5 Franken, 2 Silver 10 Franken, 1 Gold 10 Franken, 1 Gold 25 Franken and a gold 100 Franken.
All the coins are struck in high-relief Smartminting and all have a common Obverse and Reverse.
The Obverses show a full-length bust of Prince Anton Florian, the first Imperial Prince to rule over Liechtenstein.
The Reverses show the Country's Coat of Arms.
The specifications of the various variants are:
5 Franken Silver Coin:
Diameter/Size:38.61 mm; Weight: 31.1 grams or 1.0 Oz; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Denomination: 5 Franken; Coin Quality: Proof; Minted by: Coin Invest Trust; Minting Process: High Relief Smartminting; Mintage: 7.500 pieces; Year: 2019.
10 Franken Silver Coin:
Diameter/Size: 38.61 mm; Weight: 62.2 grams or 2 Oz; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Denomination: 10 Franken; Coin Quality: Proof; Minted by: Coin Invest Trust; Minting Process: High Relief Smartminting; Mintage: 1719 pieces; Year: 2019.
10 Franken Gold Coin:
Diameter/Size: 11.0 mm; Weight: 0.5 grams; Metal Composition: .9999 Fineness Gold (Ag); Denomination: 10 Franken; Coin Quality: Proof; Minted By: Coin Invest Trust; Minting Process: High Relief Smartminting; Mintage: 15,000 pieces; Year: 2019.
25 Franken Gold Coin:
Diameter/Size: 22.5 mm; Weight: 1/4 Oz; Metal Composition: .9999 Fineness Gold (Ag); Coin Quality: Proof; Minted By: Coin Invest Trust; Minting Process: High Relief Smartminting; Mintage: 999 pieces; Year: 2019.
100 Franken Gold Coin:
Diameter/Size: 33.0 mm; Weight: 31.1 grams or 1 Oz; Metal Composition: .9999 Fineness Gold (Ag); Coin Quality: Proof; Minted By: Coin Invest Trust; Minting Process: High Relief Smartminting; Mintage: 300 pieces; Year: 2019.
From the Collection of Jayant Biswas:
Jayant was the first collector in India, to receive this 5 Swiss Franc Silver Coin and 6.5 embroidered stamp set from the Swiss Mint, within a week of its release by the Mint, and he has sent to me the following images of the Coin & Stamp set:
This face is titled "300 Jahre/Years of Furstentum Liechtenstein" (meaning "300 Years of the Principality of Liechtenstein). "Sonderausgabe/Special Edition".
Below the Stamp is inscribed: "CHF 6.30, Stickerei-Briefmarke Embroidery Stamp".
Further below is mentioned - CHF 5. SILBER.1 UNZE/Silver, 1 Ounce".
"In 1719, Prince Anton Florian (1656-1721) became the first Prince of Liechtenstein. Thanks to the Prince's political prowess, Emperor Charles VI elevated the joint domain of Seigneury of Schellenberg and County of Vaduz to the status of imperial immediacy on 23 January 1719, thereby irreversibly creating the sovereign Principality of Liechtenstein."
The other variants in this Coin Set:
The Reverse of the 25 Franc Gold Coin is similar to the variants shown above.
The custom case in which the Gold variants are housed, before being shipped out to buyers/Collectors.
The Coat of Arms of Liechtenstein:
Armiger: Hans Adams II, Prince of Liechtenstein
Blazon: Quarterly I: Or (golden), an eagle displayed Sable crowned and armed Or charged with a crescent treflee, issuing from the middle thereof a cross pattee Argent (Silver) (Silesia).
The first quarter shows the Arms of Silesia.
Quarterly II: Barry of eight Or and Sable (golden & black), a crown of rue bendways throughout Vert (Kuenring).
The second quarter shows the Arms of Kuenringer.
Quarterly III: Per pale Gules (Red) and Argent (silver) (Duchy of Troppau).
The third quarter shows the Arms of the Duchy of Troppau.
Quarterly IV: Or (golden), a harpy displayed Sable the human parts Argent (silver) crowned and armed Or (Cirksena);
The fourth quarter shows the Arms of the county of Rietberg.
On a point entee Azure (blue), a bugle-horn stringed Or (Duchy of Jagerndorf).
The base is the Arms of the Duchy of Jagendorf.
en surtout, an inescutcheon per fess or Gules (Princely House of Liechtenstein)
Other elements: Behind the shield a Princely mantle Purpure lined ermine ensigned with the Princely Hat.
The Arms of the Princely House itself are placed on an inescutcheon. The whole shield is surrounded by a purple or red mantle with ermine lining and fringes and tassels of gold. At the top is placed the Princely Hat.
The Arms of the Princely House are sometimes used alone and thus form the Lesser Arms of Liechtenstein.
Links to some other interesting posts from Coin Invest Trust (CIT) on this blog:
2) 150th Anniversary of "The Great Tea Race - 1866": Commemorative Coins in the denomination of 10 and 2 Dollars issued by Cook Islands in 2016
3) The Mystical Ancient Egyptian Labyrinth depicted on $10 Silver coins issued by Cook islands in 2016, under its "Milestones of Mankind Series".
4) King Arthur: The first coin in the six coins "Camelot Series".
5) Quilling Art: Silver 2 Dollars coins issued - Flowers (2016) & Bird (2017)
3) The Mystical Ancient Egyptian Labyrinth depicted on $10 Silver coins issued by Cook islands in 2016, under its "Milestones of Mankind Series".
4) King Arthur: The first coin in the six coins "Camelot Series".
5) Quilling Art: Silver 2 Dollars coins issued - Flowers (2016) & Bird (2017)
17) "Trapped", Cook Islands: A Silver 5 Dollars High Relief Coin minted by Smartminting technology in a new design concept brought out by Coin Invest Trust on behalf of Cook Islands in 2019
18) 300 Years of Liechtenstein: Five Commemorative Coins issued in 04/2019, celebrating the milestone - 5 and 10 Franc Silver variants and 10, 25 and 100 Franc Gold variants: Coins issued by Coin Invest Trust
Vikram Bhatnagar has commented:
ReplyDelete"Now that was the "cutest" country I have ever visited. It has a lovely Parliament (with a breath-taking view of the Valley below), quaint pretty houses, a few Castles atop hills and spotlessly clean surroundings! The best part being that the country ends before one driving around, realises."
Great bit of information, Vikram. This was one of the few times that a silver coin made its way to my friend in CHANDIGARH, without any hassles, Mostly, our silver coin orders get stuck in the Customs and there is a fair amount of legwork involved before we can get them. I have stopped ordering silver coins from outside mints, but my friend got lucky.
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