Gold Philharmonic Coins from the Austrian Mint
First minted in 1989, the Austrian Philharmonic Gold bullion coins were the best-selling gold coins in the world in 1992, 1995 and 1996, according to the World Gold Council. The Gold Philharmonic was created as a gold tribute to one of the world's most well-known orchestras.
The Austrian Philharmonic gold coin is considered one of the finest gold coins in the world. It is composed of 99.99% pure gold, making it particularly valuable and durable.
On one side of the coin, an iconic design features various instruments from the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, including a harp, cello, violin and four other orchestral instruments. The opposite side portrays a portrait of the orchestra's conductor dressed in formal attire. The Austrian Philharmonic gold coin is legal tender in Austria and has become increasingly popular among investors due to its intrinsic value and iconic design.
Since its initial issue in 1989, over 17 million of these coins have been produced and sold worldwide as a reliable means for wealth preservation over long time periods. Today, the Austrian Gold Philharmonic is one of the most popular gold bullion coins for investors.
The Story Behind the Design
Created by Thomas Pesendorfer, the Gold Philharmonic coin celebrates the world-renowned Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra – one of the world’s premier orchestras. The obverse of the Gold Philharmonic coin depicts the Great Organ of the Golden Hall in Vienna's concert hall, the Musikverein.
The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1842 and is based at the Musikverein Concert Hall in Vienna, Austria. The orchestra performs approximately 150 concerts annually showcasing a wide range of classical repertoire.
The Musikverein's Golden Hall is renowned for its acoustics and features a massive pipe organ known as the "Great Organ". Built in 1909, it has 4 manual divisions, pedal division, and over 7,800 pipes. The Golden Hall and its organ are iconic symbols of Vienna's musical heritage and host the annual New Year's Concert performed by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and aired worldwide.
This popular coin’s reverse depicts eight musical instruments from the world-renowned Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, arranged in a harmonious way to give the sense of music in motion. The instruments featured include:
- Violins: Represent the string section of the orchestra.
- Cellos: Represent the bass section of the strings.
- French horns: Represent the brass section.
- Woodwinds (flutes and clarinets): Represent the woodwind section.
History of the Austrian Mint
The Austrian Mint is the official mint of Austria, based in Vienna and established in 1194. It is one of the oldest operating mints in the world and responsible for producing Austria's entire range of coins, including its gold Philharmonic coin. Since 1989, the Austrian Mint has been part of the Austrian Central Bank and produces all coins from Euro to Schilling.
The Mint also houses a museum which showcases its historic coin production over hundreds of years, from medieval coins to modern state-of-the-art coin design technology. It also offers visitors an insight into how their coins are produced and provides a unique opportunity to view some of the Mint's most famous products up close.
