Description

Both sides of this coin were designed by Thomas Pesendorfer, the Austrian Mint’s chief engraver. It was created by Pesendorfer at the beginning of his career. Pesendorfer’s iconic Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra design has been used in several different metals and many denominations, two of which have won COTY (“coin of the year”) awards; a feat that remains unparalleled. Pesendorfer originally went to the Fachschule für Metalldesign in Steyr to become a sculptor, however, he discovered his vocation was in metal design and was eventually advised to join the Austrian Mint, a Mecca for Austrian engravers

For the reverse, Pesendorfer chose to present eight characteristic orchestral instruments: four violins either side of a cello in the foreground and the Viennese horn, the bassoon and the harp behind. The inscription “WIENER PHILHARMONIKER” stands in a semicircle.