Austrian Gold Coins

Perhaps not so well known, outside of numismatics and coin collectors, are the Austrian gold coins. Yet Austria is a country steeped in history well known for its music and culture.

The currencies of Austria have included the Florin, the Crown and the Ducat, although the Ducat was never legal tender. Nowadays, of course, the Euro is the currency of Austria. However, one can still get Austrian gold coins in the form of Ducats, Florins, Crowns or Corona.

The currently produced Austrian gold coins are the one troy ounce, and fractional coins of one half, one quarter and one tenth of a troy ounce. Usually the face value is in Schillings with the one ounce being 2000 Schillings, the half being 1000 Schillings and so on.

The 2002 gold coins known as the "Philharmoniker" bullion coins, however, were struck in euros with the one ounce face value of one hundred euros, the half fifty euros and so on.

All coins are struck in 99.99 percent pure gold.

Gold Ducats were first minted at the beginning of the 16th century and have continued to be minted more or less continuously. Ducats are not legal tender however and have only ever been used as gold coins for specimen, collectors or for display.

Gold Florins and Crowns were once legal tender and were quite popular during the late 1800s. You can still locate, with some research, gold coins of some ten or twenty gold florins.

Pictured is the 1908, 100 Corona (Crown). This design, often referred to as "The Lady in the Clouds", is considered one of the most attractive coin designs of the 20th century.

Only 16 thousand were struck and very few struck as proofs. Commemorating the 60th anniversary of the reign of Franz Joseph, the coins fetch anywhere from one thousands dollars to several thousand US depending on their condition.

As with all coin purchases ensure you select a reputable dealer. You can get Austrian gold coins from Austrian gold coins.

For the serious collector as well as the hobbyist, collecting Austrian gold coins can be a pleasurable and profitable pastime.