Euro Gold and Silver Commemorative Coins (Austria) - 2007 Coinage

150,000
100,000

Circulation
UNC

This coin design is based on a historic photo of the opening session of Parliament in 1907, after the elections.

The two oval portraits in the foreground are of the Emperor Franz Joseph and Max Wladimir von Beck, who were responsible for putting the reform through.

Gerard van Swieten is original from the Netherlands. The Empress Maria Theresa chose him as her personal physician; he then became the founder of the First Vienna School of Medicine. His legacy to the world of medicine made him the choice for the first coin in this new gold series "Celebrated Physicians of Austria". The obverse shows his portrait holding a book.

The reverse shows the view of the Academy of Sciences, the handwritten text of the reform "Plan pour la faculté de medicine", and a branch of the Swietenia mahagoni. Also the text Akademie der Wissenschaften ("Academy of Sciences") can be read in this side of the coin.

This reverse of the coin shows the Etrich-Taube as well as the Zanonia glider and a waving Igo Etrich sitting in the open cockpit of a plane.

Circulation
UNC
Frosted Proof

130,000
40,000
60,000

?
€18.15
€24.20

The obverse shows a view up to the façade of the abbey church and its two side wings from a low level. The twin baroque towers and the great dome of the church behind them can be seen. In the lower right corner the coat-of-arms of the Abbey of Melk (the crossed keys of St. Peter) can be seen.

The reverse gives a view up into the central dome of the church; a vision of heaven, painted by Johann Michael Rottmayr. The three-dimensional effect created by the engraver is heightened by the Melker Cross (as written in the coin Das Melker Kreuz) in the foreground. This precious reliquary from the Melk treasury is a 14th century work of art, in gold and precious.

450,000
100,000

Circulation
UNC

The coin shows the facade of the basilica with its characteristic central gothic tower flanked by two baroque towers.

The obverse of the coin shows the "AUSTRIA", the first locomotive to run in the Empire. In the background the carriages of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd class are lined up.

The reverse depicts a scene of a train pulled by the steam locomotive Ajax crossing the bridge over the Danube on the first public run from the North Railway Station in Vienna to Deutsch-Wagram on 6 January 1838. The run caused quite a sensation, being watched and cheered by crowds of Viennese along its route. The text Kaiser-Ferdinands-Nordbahn ("Emperor Ferdinand's North Railway") can also be read in this side of the coin.

The obverse shows the locomotive "Steinbrück" with one of the typical viaducts of the Semmering railway in the background. The engine "Steinbrück" can be seen today in the Technical Museum in Vienna. It is the oldest existing locomotive built in Austria; it was constructed in 1848 for the South railway.

The reverse shows the harbour city of Trieste with the locomotive Type 17c372 getting out of the viaduct leading to the railway station. In the background sailing ships can be seen.

Circulation
UNC
Frosted Proof

130,000
40,000
60,000

?
€18.15
€24.20

The obverse displays a view of the abbey buildings nestling on the wooded hill above the town.

The reverse shows the South Portal of the church; built in 1618.

The obverse shows the building with its rounded corner connecting both wings. The rounded corner is flanked on top by two female half-figures, work of the sculptor Othmar Schimkowitz.

The reverse shows the lift in the stairwell of the house, its iron gate and the fencing ornamented with the finest Jugendstil design. In the left of the coin there is a superimposed sample of Koloman Moser's golden medallions.