Several countries have issued 1 oz investment gold coins that are sold based on the market price of gold and at very low brokerage. The Philharmonica or Philharmoniker is the Austrian version of this coin.
The history of the Philharmoniker
Austrian Philharmoniker gold coins were introduced in 1989. Philharmoniker coins are produced by the Austrian Mint in Vienna, Austria, which has been producing innovative coinage and currency for over 800 years, making it one of the oldest continuously-producing minting institutions in the world.
Philharmoniker gold coin is also featured on the side of an Austrian Airlines Airbus A340.
The Philharmoniker coin family
The design of Philharmonikers is dedicated to the Vienna Philharmonic, one of the most valued orchestras in the world. The coins are made of gold with a proof of 999.9 and are available in four sizes – 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz and 1/10 oz.
The Philharmoniker coin is unique in that it is one of the few gold coins in the world to have been minted and circulated with two different currency values: From 1989 through 2001, the coin was denominated in Austrian Shillings. Starting in 2002, the coins have been denominated in Euros.
Design
Each Philharmoniker coin celebrates the cultural pride of Austria, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
The front side carries an image of beautifully modelled musical instruments, including a string bass, cellos, violins, a bassoon, harp and Viennese horn, which symbolise Austria's rich musical and cultural heritage.
The reverse side features an image of the great organ in the Golden Hall of the Vienna Concert Hall. It also carries the nominal value, the weight of gold, the proof and the year of issue.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
| Size |
Face Value |
Diameter
mm |
Coin weight
in grams |
Proof |
Gold weight
in grams |
Gold weight in
Troy ounces (oz) |
| 1 oz (1989-2001) |
2000 ATS |
36.5 |
31.105 |
999.9 |
31.104 |
1 |
| 1 oz (2002-...) |
100 EUR |
36.5 |
31.105 |
999.9 |
31.104 |
1 |
| 1/2 oz (1989-2001) |
1000 ATS |
28 |
15.55 |
999.9 |
15.552 |
0.5 |
| 1/2 oz (2002-...) |
50 EUR |
28 |
15.55 |
999.9 |
15.552 |
0.5 |
| 1/4 oz (1989-2001) |
500 ATS |
22 |
7.78 |
999.9 |
7.776 |
0.25 |
| 1/4 oz (2002-...) |
25 EUR |
22 |
7.78 |
999.9 |
7.776 |
0.25 |
| 1/10 oz (1989-2001) |
200 ATS |
16 |
3.11 |
999.9 |
3.11 |
0.1 |
| 1/10 oz (2002-...) |
10 EUR |
16 |
3.11 |
999.9 |
3.11 |
0.1 | |
999.9
1 oz; 1/2 oz; 1/4 oz; 1/10 oz
