Austrian Gold Philharmonic coin

What is the Austrian Gold Philharmonic coin?

The Austrian Philharmonic is a truly beautiful coin; they’re considered so because the coin features a tribute to the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, an internationally loved, world renowned orchestra. The coin is produced in gold, silver and platinum and is considered to be one of the world’s best selling bullion coins. First released in 1989, the coin is a favorite for its collectability and gold value. The 1 oz Gold Philharmonic is especially sought after by music lovers, who find the coin beautiful, inspiring and historic.

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History of the Gold Philharmonic

By November of 1988, the Austrian Mint knew it would be producing a one-ounce gold bullion coin, as it had been approved to do so by the Austrian National Council. The coin was released on October 10, 1989. At first, the Mint was approved for two denominations of coin: one-ounce and quarter ounce. In 1991, a one-tenth ounce coin was added; and in 1994, a one-half ounce coin came into the picture. No matter the denomination, the coins are graced with the same design. The one differentiator is that the weight and face value are inscribed on each coin.

Popularity

The coin quickly became popular, and by 1990, the Philharmonic was the best selling bullion coin in Europe – and, remarkably, the second best selling coin in the world. According to the World Gold Council, it went on to become the world’s best-selling coin during the following years: 1992, 1995, 1996 and 2000. From 1989 to 2012, it is estimated that more than 14 million Philharmonics were sold in Austria and abroad. This represents a total weight of 9.6 million ounces of gold, which in tonnage is about 329 tons of gold. At one point, the Philharmonic became so popular in Europe, that the coin’s European presence marked half of all sales. It also became widely popular in other countries as well, including Japan and Canada and the United States in North America. 

After the Euro was introduced as Europe’s new currency, Philharmonics were minted with a Euro face value; this happened in 2002. This made the Philharmonic the first bullion coins to use the Euro for face value. The coin is legal tender only in Austria. 

Silver Coin

One-ounce silver Philharmonic coins have been around since 2008. The coin has a nominal value of 1.50 euros, and is struck from 99.9 percent pure silver. One differentiator between the gold coin and silver coin is the edging. The gold coin features a reeded edge, while the silver coin’s edge is smooth. 

The silver coins are shipped in bulk. Each box of coins, called a “monster box” is equipped with 500 coins – and it breaks down even further. The boxes contain 25 tubes of coins with 20 coins in each tube. From 2008 to 2012, more than 5 million silver Philharmonic coins were sold – that’s more than 1,800 tons of silver.

Platinum Coin

In 2016, the Austrian government minted a one-ounce platinum coin, with a purity of 999.5. It features the same design as the gold and silver. Its face value, like the one-ounce gold coin, is 100 euro. 

25th Anniversary Edition

In honor of the coin’s 25th birthday, a 1⁄25-ounce version was introduced. Again, the coin’s design didn’t change, but this time its face value was 4.00 Euro. That same year,  the mint produced 5,000 proof sets of the one-ounce and one-quarter ounce coins.

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Design

On the back of the Austrian Gold Philharmonic coin is multiple instruments: the bassoon, cello, harp, violin, and Vienna horn. This is fitting, since the coin was created as a tribute to the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, one of the most world renowned and internationally recognized orchestras in existence. Also on the back are the words “Vienna Philharmonic,” written in German, along with whether the coin is gold, silver or platinum.

On the obverse of the coin is the Musikverein Pipe Organ from the Golden Music Hall in Vienna. The words “Republic of Austria” or “REPUBLIK OSTERREICH” are written in German, along with the weight and denomination of the coin.  

Originally designed by Thomas Pesendorfer, the same design was incorporated into the gold, silver and platinum coins. The coin hasn’t changed year over year either.

Specifications

  • 1 oz has a face value of 100 Euro
  • ½ oz has a face value of 50 Euro
  • ¼ oz has a face value of 25 Euro
  • 1/10 oz has a face value of 10 Euro
  • 1/25 oz has a face value of 4 Euro

Important information 

  • Each coin is 1 troy oz of .9999 fine gold.
  • It is officially recognized as the gold bullion coin of Austria.
  • Coins’ weight and purity are guaranteed by Austria’s federal banking system.

How many karats is the Austrian Gold Philharmonic?

The Austrian Philharmonic coin is made of one-ounce of pure gold and has an original face value of 100 Euro. Like most other coins of this nature, the value of the Philharmonic fluctuates in value. Its price depends on the current spot price of gold and the worldwide demand for gold bullion coins. This coin is also produced in silver and platinum.

Can you buy Austrian Gold Philharmonic coins?

Yes. When purchasing an Austrian Gold Philharmonic coin, you’re buying one full ounce of real gold. This is the most important thing to consider – the purity and the content of the precious metal. Austria’s mint introduced the Philharmonic as its official gold coin. Since its debut, the coin has been marketed toward music lovers, investors, coin hobbyists, and numismatists. It is considered valuable for its precious metal content, but also because of its collectability – especially for its beauty in the eyes of a music lover. These coins are very popular with collectors everywhere. As always, when purchasing coins it’s important to work with a reputable dealer who has the correct paperwork and knowledge to understand what they’re working with.

Choose Crown Gold Exchange

Crown Gold Exchange holds the utmost respect for you and your valuables. When you visit one of our locations, we make sure that you feel welcome, and that your property is protected. We use industry-standard equipment to ensure accurate measurement of your valuables, and we have a special process to keep your valuables safe. Our accuracy enables us to offer you top dollar, and we have several different payment methods available for your convenience, so you won’t be waiting around to get paid.

Crown Gold Exchange will purchase any kind of gold you bring us, including 8-karat, 10-karat, 14-karat, 18-karat, 21-karat, 22-karat, 24-karat, or anything else. We buy gold bars, gold bullion, gold jewelry and some gold plated items like pocket watches. If you happen to be in possession of an exclusive piece made by a top gold designer such as Cartier, Tiffany, Rolex, or Patek Philippe, we will often pay more than the weight of the item. Such special pieces often command a higher price on the secondary market due to their superior craftsmanship.

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