Austrian Mint Silver

The Austrian Mint (Münze Österreich) is located in Vienna and is responsible for minting the coins of Austria. It is one of the oldest institutions in the country, with a history dating back over 800 years.

The history of the Austrian Mint is linked to Duke Leopold V of Austria, who was paid 15 Tonnes of silver as a ransom for the release of Richard the Lionheart in 1194. Duke Leopold decided to use this silver to strike coins, marking the birth of the Austrian Mint.

In 1989, the Austrian Mint became a public limited company and is now a subsidiary of the Austrian National Bank. Despite this change, the Mint still carries on its centuries-old tradition of coin production.

The Austrian Mint is internationally renowned for its craftsmanship, technology, and high-quality products. It mints all Austrian euro coins and produces other coins, including the world-famous Vienna Philharmonic bullion coin, collector coins, medals, and circulation coins for other countries.

The Vienna Philharmonic Coin

The Vienna Philharmonic coin, often called the "Philharmonic," is a bullion coin of gold, silver, or platinum produced by the Austrian Mint (Münze Österreich). The gold Philharmonic was first offered for sale on October 10, 1989. The silver Philharmonic coin, the second-most popular coin, was first issued in February 2008, while the platinum coin was first issued in 2016.

The Gold Philharmonic has a purity of .9999 (24 karats), while the Silver Philharmonic is made of .999 fine silver. The Platinum Philharmonic has a purity of .9995.

The coins are legal tender in Austria and come in various sizes. The design on the Philharmonic coins (video) is the same regardless of size.

The obverse of the coin features a pipe organ from the Vienna Musikverein's Golden Hall, the concert hall where the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra performs. The words "REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH" (Republic of Austria), along with the coin's weight, purity, year of issue, and face value, are also inscribed on the obverse.

The coin's reverse depicts an array of orchestral instruments, including a string bass, cellos, and violins in the center, a harp to the right, and a Viennese horn, a bassoon, and a pair of timpani to the left. The words "WIENER PHILHARMONIKER" (Vienna Philharmonic) is inscribed above the instruments.

Most Popular Austrian Coin: 2023 1 oz Silver Philharmonic BU (Brilliant Uncirculated)

This Austrian Philharmonic Silver coin contains one ounce of .999 fine silver and is guaranteed by the Austrian Mint. The obsverse features the Great Organ of the Golden Hall in Vienna’s concert hall, the Musikverein, and the year, weight, and face value. The reverse displays various instruments like the cello, violin, and bassoon. The coin is popular not only for aesthetic reasons but also affordable and is often offered for a little over the silver spot price.