Austrian Gold Philharmonics

Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coins at Provident Metals

When it comes to purchasing gold bullion coins, investors and collectors have a wide array of products to choose from. Among the more popular options are Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coins, from the Austrian Mint. These coins were first introduced in 1989 yet remain just as popular today. Learn more about these iconic coins, here at Provident Metals.

Background of the Series

The popular coin program debuted in 1989 in both a 1 oz weight and a 1/4 oz weight, with other fractional ounces following in the years that followed. This release came after the Austrian Mint was authorized to produce gold bullion coins by the Austrian National Council. One year later, the Gold Philharmonic Coin was born.

These coins originally debuted with a face value of 2,000 Austrian schillings (for the 1 oz version). It wasn’t until 2002 that the face value was changed to euros following the adoption of the euro currency. These coins are named after the famous Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, which also serves as the inspiration for both designs.

The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra is still among the most renowned orchestras in the world. Their venue, the Musikverein, can say the same as it pertains to venues. The orchestra was officially formed in 1842, however, informal performances were prevalent in the early 1830s.

Design of the Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coins

Chief Engraver of The Austrian Mint, Thomas Pesendorfer, created the designs for both fields. The design seen on the obverse and reverse has remained largely the same since the inception of the coin program.

• Obverse: The image seen on the obverse of every coin in this series is the Musikverein pipe organ. This is found inside the Golden Hall and is used in performances by the world-famous Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Identifying marks of the coin also are found on this side.
• Reverse: A variety of instruments, played by the famous orchestra, are seen on the reverse of these coins. This array of instruments includes a large cello, two violins flanking on either side, a harp, a horn, and a bassoon.

Philharmonic Silver and Platinum Coins are also available, with the same design available.

Sizes Available

The gold coin program has a 1 oz size and four fractional ounces available. The 1 oz and 1/4 oz debuted in 1989. The 1/10 oz coin was introduced in 1991, followed by the 1/2 oz in 1994. A 1/25 oz option was presented in 2014. The face value for these coins is the following:

• 1 oz: €100
• 1/2 oz: €50
• 1/4 oz: €25
• 1/10 oz: €10
• 1/25 oz: €4

Special Editions

Over the years, The Austrian Mint has introduced special versions of the Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coin. For the 15th anniversary of the coin program’s debut, the mint introduced a coin titled “Big Phil.”

This coin was released in 2004 and was a 1,000 Troy oz version of the Philharmonic Gold Coin with a face value of €100,000. To put that into perspective, that’s a 68.57-pound gold coin. It was among the largest coins in the world until being dethroned by The Royal Canadian Mint’s 100 kilogram Canadian Maple Leaf Gold Coin.

The Austrian Mint also created a 20 oz Gold Coin for the 20th anniversary of the series just a few years later. This coin had a face value of €2,000 and had a mintage of just 6,027. 2,009 (the year it was released) was given to each major market -Europe, America, and Japan.

Purchasing Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coins at Provident Metals

For any questions involving Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coins, don’t hesitate to contact the Provident Metals customer service team at 800-313-3315. Our team is available for any questions you may have. We can also be reached via email or through our online chat feature.