Yesterday, The Austrian Mint has released their first coin of 2012, 2012 Austria €5 Issue The Society of Friends of Music in Vienna. The coin celebrates 200 years of the “Society of Music Friends, in Vienna”. The coin will be available in 2 metals and 2 versions. The 300,000 copper versions will be uncirculated coins that are only available through the Austrian banking system. The 50,000 special uncirculated versions will be available from the traditional outlets for Austrian commemorative coins. The silver coin is available in special uncirculated quality and will have a maximum mintage of 50,000. Each of these coins is vacuumed sealed in a colourful and informative blister pack, with a gold-colored sleeve and bilingual text in English and German.
The reverse design of the 5 euro coin, which is the same for both the copper and silver versions, features the Musikverein’s main concert hall, the Golden Hall and its impressive organ. The obverse designed by the Mint’s Chief engraver Thomas Pesendorfer (who is also the designer for the Vienna Philharmonic bullion coin issued since 1989) highlights the intricate details found in the Golden Hall. Most famous of these are the caryatids. These female draped figures seem to carry the weight of the magnificent building on their heads. In the upper background can be seen a portion of the complex faceted ceiling with frescoes. As well the mighty pipes of the famous organ are noted in the design. Mr. Pesendorfer has achieved great depth of field on this coin with his clever design that uses the corner of the Golden Hall, the ceiling, and the chandelier to allow one to feel like they are in the hall.
The obverse of the nine-sided coin is the standard 5 euro design, with the denomination encircled by the shields of the nine federal provinces of Austria. In the center is the face value of 5 euros. The obverse was designed by mint engraver Helmut Andexlinger.
The Musikverein celebrates its 200 anniversary in 2012. It started as a small group of friends of music and grew rapidly and soon had its own concert hall. Prior to building the performance hall it currently owns, they had a small hall that only seated 700 listeners. It was much too small to satisfy the demand from the public who wanted to enjoy great music on a regular basis. Today’s Musikverein concert hall was built and is owned by the Society of Music Friends on land given to them by the Emperor Franz Joseph. The opening day was January 6, 1870. The concert hall is considered by experts to be one of the finest in the world, which is truly amazing considering it was built at a time when the science of acoustics did not exist. The Golden Hall is world-renowned because it is from here that the annual New Year’s concert is broadcast. Some estimates state that more than a billion listeners tune in for this annual broadcast.
Technical Specifications:
Technical Specifications:
Quality: special uncirculated
Face value: 5 Euro
Coin design: Thomas Pesendorfer / Helmut Andexlinger
Diameter: 28.50 mm
Alloy: Silver Ag 800 silver
Content: 8.00 g
Total weight: 10.00 g
Source: muenzeoesterreich.at
