A commemorative coin for the most important holiday
This is my entry for Day 1 “A” of the Blogging from A-Z April Challenge!
A = Austria.
Obverse
Austria joined the “Euro” at its commencement in 2002, replacing the Schilling (made up of 100 Groschen). The European Central Bank set the regulations for normal circulating coins in the EU. Circulating coins, such as the 2017 Lithuania 20 Euro Cents have a set reverse common to all Euro coins, and an obverse designed by each country. Countries are free to design non-circulating collector coins as they wish. Non-circulating collector Euro coins are only legal tender in the issuing country. In general of course, most collector coins tend to be worth more as collectibles than their face value.
The obverse of this Austrian 5 Euro coin features the country name “REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH” around the edge, and the value “5” “Euro” centre and lower. The rest of the design is taken up by the shields of the nine federal states of Austria.
This design is reminiscent of many commemorative coins Austria has issued previously.
Reverse
The reverse features a lamb in a field, in front of a representation of Jesus as the Paschal Lamb, Agnus Dei, the Easter Lamb. The Paschal lamb usually appears with a halo, with one front leg holding a cross or a spear with a penant flying from it. In colour, the penant is white with a red cross.
The image and idea of Jesus as the “lamb” of God, is prevalent throughout the bible. From Isaiah in the Old Testament, the Gospels (John 1:29), to the book of Revelation.
This coin is the first in a series the Austrian Mint have been producing each Easter, with a new 5 Euro Easter coin released most years (From 2017 to 2021 and again in 2024). The coin is copper, and nonagonal (9-sided). Not the most common shape, Numista only lists 97 nonagonal shaped coins, of which 73 are commemorative Euro coins from Austria. Of the remaining 24 coins, only 5 are circulating coins. One each from Kenya, Philippines and Thailand, and two from Tuvalu.
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