Vienna Mint

Austrian Mint M¨nze Österreich

The Vienna Mint has a long and storied history that dates back more 800 years, making it one of the oldest continuously operating mints in the world.

In 1194 AD, Richard the Lionheart paid 12 tons of silver to Duke Leopold V of Austria as a ransom for his release from captivity. This payment was used to strike silver coins, effectively marking the start of the Vienna Mint.

In 1519, the mint was granted the privilege of producing the famous "Taler" coin. This silver coin was widely circulated and influenced many currencies, including the U.S. dollar.

The Mint became a public limited company wholly owned by the Austrian Central Bank in 1989, marking a new era for the mint which now produces a wider range of coinage, including gold bullion coins, silver bullion coins, collector, and circulation coins.