Austrian Silver Vienna Philharmonic
| Austria | |
| Value | 1.50 Euro (face value) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 31.103 g (1.00 troy oz) |
| Diameter | 37.00 mm |
| Thickness | 3.2 mm |
| Edge | Smooth |
| Composition | 99.9% Ag |
| Years of minting | 2008–present |
| Obverse | |
| Design | Musikverein Golden Hall's Great Organ |
| Designer | Thomas Pesendorfer |
| Design date | 1989 |
| Reverse | |
| Design | Musical Instruments |
| Designer | Thomas Pesendorfer |
| Design date | 1989 |
The Austrian Silver Vienna Philharmonic is a silver bullion coin produced annually by the Austrian Mint. Beginning in 2008, it is now the highest minted and most well-known silver bullion coin from Europe. It is sold as a mass-produced investment coin and has sold over 54 million units during a 5-year span from 2008 to 2012. The coin is legal tender in Austria with a face value of 1.50 Euros. It weighs exactly 1 troy ounce of .999 fine silver. The coins are distributed from the Austrian Mint in mint cases of 500 coins each, containing 25 plastic tubes which house 20 coins each.
The coin was first issued on 1 February 2008 with 7,773,000 units minted which is the lowest amount minted for any year in the series. Mintage of the coins peaked in 2011 when 17,873,700 coins were struck, making it the most common date. Mintage totals for the 2014 issues have yet to be released by the Austrian Mint. With no key dates issued as of yet, the value of each Silver Vienna Philharmonic remains near the current spot price of silver without inflation of numismatic value.
The design for the coin was originally created by Thomas Pesendorfer to be used for a gold commemorative coin that was first issued in 1989. The Austrian Mint introduced the silver version of the coin in 2008. The design was unchanged and has remained the same each year as of 2015.
Obverse: The obverse design features a pipe organ from within the Musikverein, a concert hall in the Innere Stadt borough of Vienna. This is where the actual Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra plays its music. The German words "REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH" (Republic of Austria) and "1 UNZE FEINSILBER" (1 ounce pure silver) are also minted on the obverse.
Reverse: The reverse design features an array of musical instruments such as the harp, violin, cello, flute, bassoon, and French horn. The words "WIENER PHILHARMONIKER" (Vienna Philharmonic) and "SILBER" (Silver) are also inscribed.
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