Austrian Mint
Austrian Mint
The Austrian Mint, also known as M¨nze Österreich in German, is one of the oldest mints in the world, with a history that stretches back over 800 years. Located in Vienna, it is the official mint of the Republic of Austria and is a state-owned company and operates as a subsidiary of the Austrian National Bank. It is known for producing high-quality gold and silver bullion coins, collectible coins, and medals, with a reputation for precision, artistic design, and innovation.
The origins of the Austrian Mint can be traced back to the early 12th century when Duke Leopold V of Austria established a mint in Vienna. The mint's primary purpose was to strike silver coins that were widely circulated used for trade and commerce throughout Central Europe.
In the 16th century, the Austrian Mint began producing gold coins, such as ducats and florins, and first issued one of the most famous Austrian coins ever produced, the Maria Theresa Thaler. First minted in 1741 during the reign of Empress Maria Theresa, this silver coin gained worldwide acceptance and was used extensively in international trade for centuries. It was originally issued as a large silver coin with a weight of approximately 28.07 grams and a silver fineness of 833/1000.
Due to its widespread popularity, modern restrikes of the Maria Theresa Thaler coin are continually available from the Austrian Mint.
Gold & Silver Coins from Austria
Throughout its history, the Austrian Mint has produced some of the world's best-known gold bullion coins, including the Austrian Gold Philharmonic. First minted in 1989, the Philharmonic coin quickly gained popularity and is now one of the most traded gold coins globally.
The Philharmonic series includes gold, silver, and platinum coins and is named in honor of the world-renowned Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, which is considered one of the finest orchestras globally. The series started with the Gold Philharmonic, first issued in 1989 and quickly became one of the world's leading gold bullion coins. The coin's design features musical instruments representing the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, including a cello, four violins, a harp, a Vienna horn, and a bassoon. The obverse depicts the Great Pipe Organ in Vienna's Golden Hall, where the orchestra performs.
The Austrian Mint introduced the Silver Philharmonic in 2008 and the Platinum Philharmonic in 2016. These coins share the same design as their gold counterpart but are made from .999 fine silver or .9995 fine platinum respectively.
All the Philharmonic coins are legal tender in Austria and their face value is denominated in euros. The Gold Philharmonic coins are available in a variety of sizes from 1/25 oz to 1 oz, while the Silver and Platinum Philharmonics are minted in 1 oz sizes.
The Philharmonic 1 oz silver investment coin is minted from .999 fine silver and is one of the best-selling bullion investment coins due to the low premiums from trusted and reputable online bullion dealers. Bulk quantities of Philharmonics ship from the mint in tubes of 20 coins packed inside monster boxes that offer investors the deepest discounts.
Besides the Philharmonic, which is available in gold, silver and platinum metals, the Austrian Mint also mints a range of other bullion products and a variety of gold bars. Furthermore, it produces Austria's euro circulation coins and an assortment of commemorative and collector coins.
The Austrian Mint is well-regarded for its craftsmanship, innovation, and commitment to quality. This reputation, along with the beauty and purity of its products, has helped it maintain a prominent position in the international precious metals market.
https://www.muenzeoesterreich.at/eng
