Austrian euro coins

Austrian euro coins have a unique design for each denomination, with a common theme for each of the three series of coins. The minor coins feature Austrian flowers, the middle coins examples of architecture from Austria's capital, Vienna, and the two major coins famous Austrians. All designs are by the hand of Josef Kaiser and also include the 12 stars of the EU and the year of imprint.

Austrian euro design

For images of the common side and a detailed description of the coins, see euro coins.

Coin image box 8 singles
header = Depiction of Austrian euro coinage | Obverse side
column_1_width = 150
column_2_width = 166
column_3_width = 159
denom_1 = € 0.01
denom_2 = € 0.02
denom_3 = € 0.05
image_1 =
image_2 =
image_3 =
caption_1 = The gentian, a flower of the Austrian Alps
caption_2 = The edelweiss, a flower of the Austrian Alps
caption_3 = The primrose, a flower of the Austrian Alps

denom_4 = € 0.10
denom_5 = € 0.20
denom_6 = € 0.50
image_4 =
image_5 =
image_6 =
caption_4 = St. Stephen's Cathedral, Viennese Gothic architecture
caption_5 = The Belvedere Palace, an example of the Baroque
caption_6 = The Secession Building, an example of art nouveau

denom_7 = € 1.00
denom_8 = € 2.00
header_9 = € 2 Coin Edge
box_9 = "2 EURO" with ***, repeated 4 times alternately upright and inverted.
image_7 =
image_8 =
caption_7 = Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, famous Austrian composer
caption_8 = Bertha von Suttner, the Austrian radical pacifist and Nobel Peace Prize winner

Future changes to the national side of circulation coins

"The national sides of all denominations of the euro circulation coins should bear an indication of the issuing Member State by means of the Member State’s name or an abbreviation of it.

"The national side should not repeat any indication on the denomination, or any parts thereof, of the coin neither should it repeat the name of the single currency or of its subdivision, unless such indication stems from the use of a different alphabet.

"This Recommendation should apply to national sides and edge letterings of both normal and commemorative euro circulation coins. It should not apply to the national sides and edge letterings of both normal and commemorative euro circulation coins which have been first issued prior to the adoption of this Recommendation."

The above paragraphs, in essence, requires 5 of the Eurozone members to change their national designs. Finland was the first state when they changed its design in 2007, Belgium did so in 2008 while Austria will not change its current design for the time being. [cite press release | title = No design change for Austrian and German euro coins | publisher=www.zwei-euro.com | date = 2008-02-01 | url = http://www.zwei-euro.com/2-euro/ | accessdate = 2008-09-09]

Circulating Mintage quantities

The following table shows the mintage quantity for all Austrian euro coins, per denomination, per year (the numbers are represented in millions). [cite web | publisher=Henning Agt | url=http://www.euro-auflagen.de/index.php?lang=en | title=Circulating Mintage quantities | accessdate=2008-08-22]

Austrian proof set

Each year the Austrian Mint issues a limited edition of its Euro coins in proof quality.

€2 commemorative coins

Other commemorative coins (Collector's coins)

Austria has a large collection of euro commemorative coins, mainly in Silver and Gold, but they also use other materials (like Niobium for example). Their face value range from 5 euro to 100 euro. This is mainly done as a legacy of old national practice of minting Gold and Silver coins. These coins are not really intended to be used as means of payment, so generally they do not circulate. Here you can find some samples:

References

External links

* [http://www.ecb.int/bc/euro/coins/html/at.en.html European Central Bank – Information about the Austrian euro coins]
* [http://www.oenb.at Oesterreichische National Bank (Austrian Central Bank)]
* [http://www.goldeuro.at Austrian gold coins / Goldmünzen Österreich]
* [http://www.ibiblio.org/theeuro/files/files.nat/austria.s01.htm The Euro Information Website – Austria]
* [http://austrian-mint.at The Austrian Mint]
* [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2005/l_186/l_18620050718en00010002.pdf Common guidelines for the national sides of euro circulation coins]
* [http://www.euro-auflagen.de/index.php?lang=en Mintage Quantities]