Description
Gold coin 10 crowns (Münze Österreich)
The gold crown is the first official currency of Austrian Hungarian Monarchy. It has been in circulation since 1892, which is the year that the Monarchy incorporated a golden standard in their monetary politics. Prior to this, in the first half of the 19th century, gold guilders were in use. Their primary purpose was to standardize Austrian currency with currencies used in the Latin monetary union.
In the beginning, 10 and 20 crown gold coins were crafted. A much larger 100 crown gold coin was issued as the Emperor Frances Joseph’s Diamond Jubilee in 1908. Even though the 10 crown gold coin ceased to be issued in 1910, the year 1912 was placed on the back it. This is also the year that all gold crowns were withdrawn from print.
Austrian mint Münze Österreich is owned by the Central Austrian bank. It is one of the oldest mints in the world. Historically, it was first mentioned in 1371, but the actual history is about two centuries longer. There is an interesting story about its beginnings. On his way back from the Crusades, Richard the Lionheart was apprehended in Austria (due to a prior offence towards Duke Leopold V). Richard paid 15 tons of silver in ransom. Leopold decided to use that silver to make coins, thus starting the first mint business in Vienna. Along with coins, Munze Osterreich produces Austrian euro coins, as well as commemorative medals. Auro Domus is their official partner in Croatia.
