Austrian Silver Philharmonics

Austrian Silver Philharmonics combine .999 fine silver with some of the most unique designs you’ll find on any coin. Shop our full inventory of affordable Austrian Silver Philharmonics below. 

2024 1 oz Austrian Silver Philharmonic Coin (BU)

The newest edition to the long-running Austrian Silver Philharmonic is just what some collectors need to build their stack with the latest Austrian silver coins. On the obverse of this .999 fine silver coin, you’ll find an exceptionally intricate depiction of the Musikverein pipe organ. Flip the coin over to find eight classic orchestra instruments. For decades, the Austrian Silver Philharmonic has been one of the most culturally significant coins on the market. Its brilliant designs pay homage to Vienna’s musical heritage. 

1 oz Austrian Silver Philharmonic Coin 

For investors on a budget, “random year” Philharmonics can be a great way to buy low premium silver bullion. These coins will be shipped in relatively good condition, but the specific year you receive depends on our current inventory. All 1 oz Austrian Silver Philharmonic Coins will be from 2008 or later. For budget investors, this is a fantastic coin to put your money on some of the most popular European silver coins without breaking the bank on premiums.

Austrian Silver Philharmonics For Sale – Hero Bullion!

While the Austrian Mint in Vienna is quite a bit newer than some of the other government mints that dominate the bullion industry, they’ve quickly established themselves as the premier source of a number of incredible gold and silver products. There is no coin from the Austrian Mint that is more instantly recognizable than the Silver Philharmonic. Paying homage to Vienna’s most important cultural landmark, this coin provides investors with an opportunity to celebrate the unique history and heritage of Austria and its people. 

This coin was actually one of the first bullion pieces offered by the Austrian Mint. Although the silver variation of the coin wasn’t released until 2008, it has quickly become one of the best-selling bullion coins in the world. Taking a look at the exceptional level of detail and the novel reverse-side artwork offered by the piece, it isn’t hard to see why so many bullion collectors flock to the Austrian Mint yearly to get the newest versions of the Austrian Silver Philharmonic Coin. 

Hero Bullion is proud to offer the Austrian Silver Philharmonic Coin. Because of the fascinating history of both this coin and the landmark after which it is named, we want to give readers a brief insight into how this coin came to dominate the bullion industry. On this page, we’ll arm our readers with all the information they need to make an informed decision about whether or not the Austrian Silver Philharmonic Coin is a necessary addition to their collections. 

The Austrian Mint

We often comment on the historical significance of the mints that we do business with. The British Royal Mint, for instance, reigns as the second-oldest mint in the world and the tenth-oldest business. Even the United States Mint offers an extensive history of over two-hundred years. This is not the case with the Austrian Mint, which was first established in 1989. That’s right; the producer of the Silver Philharmonic Coins is only thirty-four years old! 

The history of silver and gold minting in Austria actually goes back far further than the establishment of the Austrian Mint we know today. Duke Leopold V is generally credited with having been the first monarch to consider striking coins made of silver. Leopold had imprisoned Richard the Lionheart, King of England, while returning from the Crusades. Lionheart paid his bounty with an astonishing 15 tons of pure silver bullion. Leopold decided that he would use the silver to create coins, which kicked off an extensive history of coinage and minting in Austria. 

This legacy continued for hundreds of years, although the Austrian Mint as we now know it was only established in 1989. The mint’s original job was to mint Austrian coins for the government, and it has since expanded operations to produce a number of collectable coins for distribution. In addition to the popular Philharmonic Coin, the Austrian Mint also frequently produces the Maria Theresa Thaler. Unlike some mints that outsource parts of the design/minting process to other organizations, the Austrian Mint actually stamps and designs the coins on-site. 

History of the Philharmonic Coin

The Philharmonic Coin’s history closely follows the history of its manufacturing mint. In 1988 – one year before the Mint was officially established – the Austrian National Council allowed the mint to produce a number of different denominations of the Philharmonic Coin. The initial coins were minted using pure gold, and the silver coin we love today was not minted until 2008. The inspiration for the coin is clear; it takes its name and obverse design from the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. 

The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra is considered among the best orchestras in the entire world. Based out of the recognizable Musikverein in Vienna, the orchestra boasts one of the most complex audition processes of any musical group. In order to join the Vienna Philharmonic, musicians must demonstrate exceptional proficiency at both opera and ballet while working with the Vienna State Opera. After three years of excellence, members are allowed to apply to join Austria’s most prestigious orchestra. 

We also must note the incredible cultural history that makes up the core design philosophy of the Austrian Silver Philharmonic Coin. While coins like the Silver Britannia and the American Silver Eagle offer their own cultural history, the intense detail and focus of the Austrian Silver Philharmonic makes it a unique piece in our eyes. Fans of musical history should already know how important the country of Austria is to the world of music and orchestra; Mozart himself was from Austria, and the country also lays claim to Schubert, Bruckner, Shoenberg, and many more historically significant musicians. 

A 2006 poll of several radio stations declared the Philharmonic Orchestra to be the greatest in Europe, and the orchestra is frequently named one of the five best orchestras in the entire world. Thanks to both the beauty of the Musikverein and the prowess of its hallmark orchestra, Vienna has bolstered its reputation as a mecca for some of the world’s greatest musicians and conductors. 

The Philharmonic Coin pays homage to this cultural landmark on both its obverse and reverse sides. Its obverse side features the Musikverein Pipe Organ, a world-famous organ known for its incredible chilling tones and its placement in the incredible Musikverein building. The Musikverein itself has been called one of the best orchestra homes in the world, and its acoustics are world-class.

2024 1 oz Austria Silver Philharmonic Coin
2024 1 oz Austrian Silver Philharmonic Coin

This coin also differentiates itself from other popular international coins in a number of ways. Unlike coins from mints like the British Royal Mint and its former subsidiaries, the coin features objects on both sides – and no image of a monarch. Additionally, the coin has undergone minimal design change since its original premier in 1989. 

It has been named the world’s best-selling coin several times: 1992, 1995, 1996, and 2000 were all years dominated by the Austrian Philharmonic, according to the World Gold Council. Total sales of the gold philharmonic coin amount to over 14 million and total to a weight of over 329 tons. 

Austrian Silver Philharmonic Coin Details

As we mentioned above, the Silver Philharmonic Coin offers an exceptionally unique design on both of its sides. Minted with .999 pure silver bullion, the designs of the coin are both novel and exceptionally detailed. Struck against the beautiful silver, every detail of the instruments and the orchestra-house’s organ are visible in exquisite detail. The 1 Oz Silver Philharmonic also offers a face value of 1.5 Euro, although using one to buy a candy bar is certainly not recommended. 

Backed by the government of Austria, the Silver Philharmonic comes with the guarantee of a major world government, which is certainly a plus for some consumers. Both the obverse and reverse sides of the coin were designed by artist Thomas Pesendorfer, whose work with the Austrian Mint has won him a number of prestigious bullion awards. 

In this section, we’ll give readers a closer look at the incredible cultural heritage and attention to detail that makes the Austrian Silver Philharmonic Coin one of the world’s most coveted bullion pieces. 

Obverse Design 

The obverse is one of the most recognizable designs in bullion – and with good reason. This side of the coin emphasizes the Musikverein Pipe Organ. This massive organ is a hallmark of Vienna’s most famous orchestra-house. Its biggest pipe is over 32 feet long and it weighs over eight-hundred pounds. People from all over the world flock to the Musikverein to see the classic organ, which has been a symbol of Vienna’s musical and cultural heritage for decades. 

While it’s tough to describe the beauty and awe-inspiring effect of sitting in the front row as the Vienna Orchestra performs, this coin may be as close as many collectors will ever come to the real experience. On the obverse, we’re given the basic information you’d come to expect from any coin: the face value, weight, material, purity, and year. But above this information stands the great Musikverein Pipe Organ. Even on this small coin, its staggering size is clear. 

Because of the exceptional attention to detail by artist Thomas Pensendorfer, owners of this coin can make out nearly every part of the massive organ. The art between each section of pipes, the statues atop its crown, and even the designs on the bottom of the organ are incredibly clear. We think that the silver version of the coin makes the design even more beautiful. 

1 oz Austrian Silver Philharmonic Coin- Random Year, Any Condition
1 oz Austrian Silver Philharmonic Coin- Random Year, Any Condition

Above the famed Austrian organ is the name of the country, Republik Ostereich. 

Reverse Design 

It’s tough to outdo the beauty of the Musikverein Pipe Organ, but Pensendorfer gets pretty close with his fascinating vision on the reverse of the Silver Philharmonic Coin. This side of the coin includes a number of musical instruments that listeners would identify in the Austrian Philharmonic. The instruments include a bassoon, Vienna horn, a cello, several violins, and a harp. Because all of the relevant information about the coin and its details is included on the obverse, the artist was able to reserve this side of the coin exclusively for the instruments themselves. And believe us: the instruments offer a new kind of beauty to the design of the Austrian Silver Philharmonic. 

All eight instruments on the reverse side of the Silver Philharmonic are intricately designed, but they seem to maintain a nearly personal feel. The artist clearly wanted to depict the instruments as being real, tangible elements of the orchestra that they make up. We’re a particularly big fan of the cello, which is flanked on both sides by violins and provides the geometrical symmetry employed on this side of the coin. 

For bullion collectors who love gold and silver coins, it’s always nice to have a lot to look at when holding a tangible piece of bullion in your hands. If this is you, then the popularity of the Austrian Silver Philharmonic Coin should not be surprising. Featuring eight instruments, all of which are highly detailed and true-to-life, the reverse of this coin is something we really could look at all day. 

Where to Buy Austrian Silver Philharmonic Coins 

Hero Bullion is excited to offer the Austrian Silver Philharmonic Coin on our website. The coin features the same designs as the gold version of the coin, and we tend to prefer the look and feel of the silver variation. It comes only in the 1 oz variation and offers a face-value of 1.5 Euro. It is possible to buy the Austrian Silver Philharmonic Coin online, and Hero Bullion offers some of the most secure and competitive shipping procedures in the industry. 

The Austrian Silver Philharmonic Coin is one of the best-selling silver coins in history. According to some industry experts, the coin remains the most popular silver piece sold on the European continent. Even the Silver Britannia from the titan British Royal Mint struggles to compete with global demand for the Austrian Silver Philharmonic. We get it, too. This coin boasts one of the most unique designs of any government-backed coin, and its celebration of Austrian history and culture makes it a must-have for collectors who enjoy music. 

2024 1 oz Austria Silver Philharmonic Monster Box
2024 1 oz Austrian Silver Philharmonic Coins Monster Box

Final Thoughts: Buy Austrian Silver Philharmonics

There are several reasons why the Austrian Philharmonic Coin has frequently been named the best-selling coin in the world. Aside from its incredible level of detail, the coin reserves a special place in the hearts of millions of bullion collectors who love the world of music and musical history. From the Musikverein Pipe Organ on the obverse to the eight musical instruments on the reverse, the Austrian Silver Philharmonic depicts the cultural significance of the Philharmonic Orchestra in an unprecedented way. 

Please contact us if you have any questions about how to buy Austrian Silver Philharmonics. Like all of Hero Bullion’s products, we take great care to make sure your coins are shipped as safely and securely as possible. After all, we’d never want the beautiful likeness of the Musikverein Pipe Organ to suffer scratches or chips.