The Austrian Philharmonic silver coin is the only silver bullion you’ll find with a face value in euro.

Since its first mintage in 2008, the 850-year-old Münze Österreich (Austrian Mint)’s design wowed the precious metal community and earned top awards from numismatic organizations, but also captured the title, “Europe’s #1 silver bullion coin.”

Which is strange, considering how unusual the Philharmonic’s design is compared to most gold and silver coins. Most nations choose kings and queens, presidents and national heroes for their coinage… Austria, though? They haven’t won a war since 1897. The less said about their political leaders, the better. Instead, the Austrian Mint chose a symbol of national pride and achievement nobody can argue with: the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Yes, just like the Philharmonic coin, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra really is one of the best in the world.

The obverse features what might, at first, look like a building. It’s actually part of the Großer Musikvereinssaal (Golden Hall): an astonishingly ornate display case built in 1870 to house a building-sized pipe organ. (Over the last 150 years, the organ itself has only been replaced four times.) You’ll see the words Republik Osterreich and 1 unze feinsilber on the obverse as well. These translate to “Republic of Austria” and “1 ounce fine silver” from German, Austria’s official language. The 2023 year of issue and face value of €1.50 are on the obverse as well. Only the mintage year changes – the rest of the coin’s design is so perfect they haven’t touched it since 2008.

The reverse continues the musical theme with a line-up of the instruments you’ll find during any performance in the Golden Hall. A single cello, bookended by violins, dominates the foreground. Behind (left to right), we see a French horn, the top of a bassoon and a harp. These represent respectively the brass, woodwind and percussion sections of the orchestra – yes, harps are percussion not strings – so all four types of instruments are accounted for.

Across the top edge of the coin, the phrase Weiner Philharmoniker (Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra) appears in classic Gothic lettering. Underneath, the word Silber appears to differentiate between the silver and platinum coins – though a knowing eye can easily tell the difference. Silver’s so much more reflective than platinum!

People in Europe have long memories. Austrians are well aware they chose the wrong side during the world wars (both times), remember the decade of hyperinflation in the 1920s and know, in their bones, just how bad things can get. That’s a major reason why silver bullion coins like the Philharmonic are popular in Europe. Every Austrian family I’ve ever met has a shoebox, a hollow wall or a floor safe well-stocked with inflation-resistant, sound-money coins like the Philharmonic. Like firearms, you hope you never need them – but when you do, you’re damned glad to have them.

Quarter tube of 2023 1 oz Austrian Philharmonic silver coins (5 coins total):

• Europe’s top-selling silver bullion coin since 2008
• 2023 is the fifteenth year of mintage – for a highly active, deeply liquid global market
• Crafted in 0.999 pure silver by one of Europe’s most established mints, the Münze Österreich (Austrian Mint), making real money since 1194
• Legal tender of Austria with face value of €1.50 – the only silver bullion coins with a face value in euro
• Official Austrian Mint silver Philharmonic tubes are perfect for compact, convenient, long-term storage (and with room for 20 coins total, why not fill your quarter-tube of Philharmonics with other silver coins?)

Condition: New

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