Knowledge base – GoldAdvert

Antique silver coins of Austria

Contents

Antique silver coins of Austria can be divided into three groups. Those are thalers, kreuzers, coronas, and shillings. Every type was minted in Austrian mint depending on the ongoing monetary reforms or the head of the state.

Silver thaler

Thaler is a silver coin that was used in Europe, including Austria, during XVI-XIX centuries. The coin design was changing depending on the king. It was presented in one denomination only.

1 thaler of Archduke Leopold V

 

1 thaler of Ferdinand I

Austrian 1 Thaler 1842 silver coins in GoldAdvert catalog.

The Vereinsthaler

Interesting fact: The Vereinsthaler was minted due to the German-Austrian monetary convention, signed on January 24, 1857. The coinage was limited to thirty copies. They were made from a pound of 90 % silver, which exceeded the fineness of silver of the Prussian thaler minted in 1750-1856.

Silver kreuzers

The minting of silver kreuzers in Austrian Empire began in 1458-1460. The name of the coin comes from the word “kreuz”, which means “the cross” because the symbol of the Viennese cross was depicted on the first copper coins.

3 kreuzers

 

5 kreuzers

10 kreuzers

20 kreuzers

Interesting fact: The book with records of the military court of the reign of Maria Theresa is stored in the Prague Museum. It records that each regiment had an executioner who was paid 1 thaler for the head of an executed soldier. Some days the executioner could receive up to 5 thalers.

Austrian 20 Kreuzers 1758 silver coins in GoldAdvert catalog.

Silver coronas

After a protracted financial crisis, Austria implemented a monetary reform. Starting with August 2, 1892, the issue of gold and silver coronas had started. Silver coins were represented in 1, 2 and 5 corona denominations. After the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapse in 1918 these coins were slowly withdrawn from the circulation and substituted by shillings.

1 corona

2 coronas

5 coronas

Interesting fact: A commemorative silver coin of 5 corona denomination was issued in 1908. It was dedicated to the 60th Anniversary of the reign of Franz Joseph I.

Silver shillings

Shillings replaced the depreciated corona. They were minted on the Austrian mint since March 1, 1925, until 1938. Silver coins of 1/2, 1, 2 and 5 shilling denominations were minted in that period.

1/2 shillings

Interesting fact: The design of these coins was created by the artist Philip Hussler in the distinctive style of the 1920s.

1 shilling

2 shillings

Austrian 2 Shilings 1937 silver coins in GoldAdvert catalog.

5 shillings

Interesting fact: The rarest of these coins have a 1934 year of minting because that coinage was almost completely remelted.

Which mint issued

Throughout the centuries, the Austrian mint issued various types of silver coins. This was not an accident. The history of the mint is connected closely with this noble metal. In 1194 Archduke Leopold took Richard Lionheart captive, who had to give a ransom for his freedom. This ransom was approximately 12 tons of silver. It was ordered to begin minting from this silver. Thus, the Austrian mint started its work and continued it to this day as part of the central Austrian Bank.

The cost of antique silver coins

The price of any of the presented coins is not fixed. It depends on many factors:

For example, the price of silver coins can vary within such limits on numismatic exchanges and auctions: