Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coin

The Austrian national mint doesn’t always jump to mind when we ask investors about the world’s most reputable government mints. This is a shame, because the Austrian Mint provides consumers one of the most resoundingly popular gold coins in history. Of course, we’re talking about the Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coin. Struck with a stunning 99.99% fine gold bullion and bearing some of the most fascinating designs in coinage history, the Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coin has won its reputation for a reason. 

Intricate obverse and reverse designs and a fascinating history help to make the coin an undisputed favorite of collectors. While it does carry a face value of 100 Euros, Austria’s most famous gold coin is generally worth quite a bit more to gold and numismatic coin collectors. In today’s Bullion Academy guide, we’re exploring the history, design specifications, and investment potential of the Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coin. 

Australian Philharmonic Gold Coin Series

The full one ounce version of the Gold Austrian Philharmonic has been released yearly from the Austrian Mint since 1989. While this doesn’t exactly make it the oldest continuous release coin in history, over thirty years of yearly distribution has given the piece plenty of time for collectors to grow fond of Austria’s most popular gold coin. Let’s take a closer look at the details behind this famous coin series, including its inception, specifications, musical designs, special editions, and notable releases. 

Introduction and Inception 

Unlike many other popular coins, the Austrian Philharmonic was actually first released in both full ounce and fractional variations. The Austrian National Council is responsible for telling the Austrian Mint which bullion products they’re supposed to produce. And in 1998, the Council charged the Austrian Mint with producing a new gold bullion coin. The initial release of the Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coin came in 1989, when the mint distributed one and one-quarter ounce versions of the Gold Philharmonic. 

Similarly to the South African Gold Krugerrand, the Austrian Philharmonic gained traction quickly with investors. It was Europe’s best selling coin in 1990, and maintained a title of most popular coin on the planet in 1992, 1995, 1996, and 2000. Even today, the coin is incredibly popular among collectors. Its face value also shifted slightly in 2002. With the adoption of the Euro in Austria, the coin switched from shillings to a Euro-based face value. Today, the 1 oz Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coin holds a nominal face value of 100 Euros. 

Specifications and Purity 

This popular gold coin features 99.99% pure gold bullion. The actual weight of the gold content included in the Austrian Philharmonic varies based on the size of your coin. Obviously, fractional denominations will contain less actual gold than the full one ounce version of the coin, but the percentage of fine gold bullion remains the same across all weights. 

Striking Musical Designs 

While Vienna is known for many things, most of its reputation comes from music. A number of famous composers have made their home in Vienna, which is known as the “City of Music.” The city’s legacy of musical composers and orchestras has made it the place to be if you’re a fan of classical music. Both Mozart and Beethoven made homes in Vienna, and their legacy has helped to shape Vienna into an international destination for musicians and composers alike. 

Homages to Vienna’s musical history characterize both the obverse and reverse of the Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coin. On the obverse, you’ll find the Musikverein Pipe Organ. This organ is among the largest in the world and finds its home in the Musikverein – Vienna’s internationally recognizable music hall. The intricate detail of this obverse depiction shows off every one of the pipes on this massive musical instrument. 

On the reverse, note another unique design with musical importance. The backside of the Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coin features eight musical orchestra instruments. Each one is rendered in exceptional detail, and they’re arranged geometrically with the large cello in the center. Two violins on each side surround the cello, and a harp, bassoon, and Vienna horn decorate the area behind the large instrument. 

Notable Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coin Releases

Two unique coins from the Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coin made international news upon their release. The first is known as “Big Phil.” For fans of massive bullion coins, this piece should remind you of the “Big Maple” distributed by the Royal Canadian Mint. This coin contains 1,000 troy ounces of fine gold and carries a face value of 100,000 Euros. Until the release of Canada’s Big Maple, the Big Phil was the biggest gold coin ever produced. Only fifteen of these massive coins were ever produced, and one is still displayed in the foyer area of Munich bullion dealer Pro Aurum. 

Although it isn’t quite as large as the Big Phil, the 20 ounce Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coin also made headlines. Minting numbers for this smaller piece were quite a bit higher than they were for the Big Phil; 6,027 of them were minted for collectors. The face value of this coin was 2,000 Euros, although the actual metal content was closer to 14,000 Euros at the time when it was minted. 

Design and Symbolism 

The designs that decorate Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coins are a big reason behind their sustained success on the open market. Each side of the coin reminds us of the cultural and musical history that characterizes both Austria and its capitol, Vienna. We’re going to take a closer look at the beautiful obverse and reverse designs of the Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coin in the next section. 

Musical Motifs in Detail 

We briefly discussed the musical designs featured on the Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coin earlier in this guide. But for many collectors, the musical culture highlighted on Vienna’s landmark coin is an extremely important element in its investment value. Let’s spend more time exploring the details of these intricate designs. 

On the obverse, the Musikverein Pipe Organ makes its appearance. The Musikverein is Vienna’s most famous music hall. In fact, it remains one of the most popular and renowned music halls in the entire world. It opened in 1870 at the request of Emperor Franz Joseph I, Austria’s leader at the time. Part of the reason behind the music hall’s impressive popularity is its unique acoustics. The hall was built to allow for sound to reflect in unprecedented ways, creating a unique vibe for listeners. 

At the center of the Musikverein is its large pipe organ, a massive musical instrument that remains recognizable to musicians all over the world. On the Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coin, the instrument is shown in exceptional detail; you can make out all of its organs against the brilliant gold finish of the piece. 

The reverse also features instruments that remind collectors of the musical legacy and cultural history of Vienna. A large cello is flanked by four separate violins, two on each side. Behind the cello, you’ll find a harp, bassoon, and Vienna horn. The unique orchestra instrument depictions help to make the Austrian Philharmonic an unprecedented aesthetic achievement in the world of coinage. 

Aesthetic Elements

In addition to the impressive intricacy of the obverse on the Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coin, collectors tend to love the aesthetic appeal of the reverse. We don’t see many coins on the market that celebrate musical history, and the choice to feature not one – but eight – different orchestral instruments certainly helps the coin to stand out against its competitors in the bullion sector. 

Symbolic Significance

It’s hard to overstate the importance of music to the cultural history and heritage of Vienna. For centuries, the city has been the de facto musical capitol of the world. All gold coins celebrate the heritage of the countries in which they are minted. For Austria, the choice should be clear. If you’re going to mint a uniquely Austrian coin, you’ll need to focus on the music. After all, there’s really no other way to celebrate the home of Mozart and Beethoven than to pay homage to the musical traditions that helped create them. 

For musicians, the Musikverein is instantly recognizable. Composers and orchestra performers all over the world understand the importance of the music hall, as well as its trademark pipe organ. And for fans of musical history and orchestra performances, the eight instruments on the reverse side of the Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coin are equally recognizable. 

Influence on Numismatics

Numismatic collectors have appreciated the look and feel of the Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coin for decades. Just one year after its initial release, the coin became Europe’s best-selling gold coin. And a few years later, it was the most popular coin in the entire world – a title it would retain for several years, according to world authorities on gold bullion. 

Austria’s most famous gold coin also helps numismatic coin collectors to diversify their portfolios. For some consumers, coins from the U.S. Mint, Royal British Mint, and Royal Canadian Mint dominate their holdings. This numismatically valuable and culturally significant coin from the Austrian Mint allows collectors to expand the diversity of the coins they collect. 

Artistry and Craftsmanship 

The artistry behind the Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coin is another reason behind its success. We’ve discussed the intricacy of its design a few different times, but it’s also worth noting that the designs themselves are innovative by nature. Like we mentioned earlier, there are very few coins on the market that celebrate iconic musical images. The choice to include these depictions on the obverse and reverse of our Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coins helps make them a unique – but appreciated – choice for gold collectors. 

Investment Potential 

The investment potential of Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coins is hard to overstate. For decades, collectors have considered the Austrian Philharmonic an excellent way to expand their gold stacks with a unique, beautiful coin from one of the world’s most respected government mints. 

Gold Content and Purity 

The Vienna Philharmonic is minted using .9999 fine gold bullion. Since this coin is also available in fractional weights, actual gold weight might vary based on the denomination you choose to buy. The incredible fineness of the Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coin helps to emphasize the detail of its designs, which celebrate some of the most important cultural icons to world-famous Vienna. 

Factors Affecting Value 

Several factors influence the value of an Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coin. The base value of this piece is determined primarily by the current spot price of gold bullion. In addition to this base value, expect to pay hefty premiums on your Austrian gold coins. All government coins come with exceptionally high premium costs, and the Austrian Philharmonic is no exception. 

Some Austrian Philharmonics might also come with additional fees because of their numismatic rarity and collectability. While these coins aren’t particularly rare during most years, some minting runs feature extremely low mintage figures. These coins tend to appreciate in value over time, and it might be a great idea for investors with capital to put their money on this valuable gold coin. 

Collectible Vs. Bullion Appeal

The bullion value of an Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coin is not the only thing that determines how much it will sell for on the open market. Spot price does determine base value; a coin will never be worth less than its melt value in gold bullion. In fact, most coins from this storied Austrian series sell for more than they’re worth in pure gold. 

We refer to this as the difference between collectible and bullion appeal. Collectors who want to secure gold bullion without paying high premiums should generally consider investing in gold bars, which come with lower premium costs. 

Final Thoughts: Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coins

Despite high premium costs, there’s a reason why the Austrian Philharmonic gold Coin is one of the world’s most popular bullion coins. The coin features intricate and culturally important designs on both the obverse and reverse, and collectors also appreciate the .9999 fineness used to mint them. 

Hero Bullion carries a wide range of Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coins. If you still have questions about investing in Vienna’s history of musical excellence, please feel free to contact our customer support team. 

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