1915 Austrian One Hundred Corona Gold Best Value Bullion Coins

The 100 Corona is a 90% gold Austrian bullion coin, restruck with the same date for more than a century.

History Of Gold 100 Coronas

In 1892 the Austro-Hungarian Empire adopted the gold standard and introduced a new decimal currency: the Krone (also Corona or, in English: Crown). Gold 10 Corona and 20 Corona coins were first minted in the same year, followed by a 100 Corona piece in 1908, issued to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Emperor Franz Joseph I. These large gold coins were struck in limited numbers for the next six years.

On 28 June 1914, Franz Joseph's heir presumptive, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated in Sarajevo, triggering the July Crisis and the outbreak of the First World War. The Austrian Mint stopped striking gold coins - including the 100 Corona - for the duration of the conflict.

In 1921 minting began again in Vienna, now capital of the First Austrian Republic. These new 100 Corona coins were all dated 1915, honouring the final full year of Franz Joseph I's long reign.

Austrian 1915 re-strike 100 Coronas entered the global market when demand for private gold ownership was increasing. The historic date allowed American investors - then banned from owning gold bullion - to acquire Coronas as collectible coins. This loophole ensured their popularity though the introduction of the South African Krugerrand and the easing of bullion restrictions did reduce the Austrian coin's market share. Gold 100 Corona coins are still struck with a 1915 date by the Münze Österreich though you'd be hard-pressed to tell when exactly any given piece was produced.

Austrian 100 Coronas Composition

100 Corona coins are struck in 33.88 grams of 90% (.900) pure gold. That means these restrikes have an actual gold weight of 30.49 grams or 0.9803 troy ounces.

It's interesting to compare gold 100 Corona restrikes with another Austrian bullion coin: the gold Vienna Philharmonic or Weiner Philharmoniker. These modern Austrian Mint coins, introduced in 1989, contain slightly more gold of a higher purity (99.99) than the 1915 100 Corona but are slightly lighter than the restrike overall.

Similarly, the South African gold Krugerrand, introduced in 1967, has a purity of 91.67% and contains exactly one troy ounce of pure gold: just a little more than the Austrian restrike coin. 100 Coronas are, however, thinner and wider than the Krugerrand, boasting a diameter of 37.00 millimetres that allows the collector to appreciate the coin's historic designs in their full glory.

Emperor Franz Joseph I Portrait

The obverse of all gold 100 Corona coins features a right-facing bust of Franz Joseph I, Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary. The portrait is truncated and shows the Emperor with his distinctive close-cropped hair and mutton chop whiskers.

The effigy on these gold coins is the work of the Austrian sculptor Stefan Schwartz (1851-1924). As well as engraving Austrian, Serbian and Montenegrin coinage, Schwartz was a prolific medallist and taught the art at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts. His name appears below the portrait's neck as 'ST · SCHWARTZ'.

The legend around the portrait reads: 'FRANC · IOS · I · D · G · IMP · AVSTR · REX BOH · GAL · ILL · ETC · ET AP · REX HVNG'.

Austrian Coat Of Arms Reverse

The reverse of restrike 1915 gold 100 Coronas features the Imperial coat of arms of the Austrian Empire. This composition incorporates the black double-headed eagle, the Reichsadler, derived from the arms of the Holy Roman Emperors. The beast is shown with its wings spread, holding a sword in one claw and an orb in the other. Above the twin heads is the Imperial Crown of Austria. On its chest is a shield bearing the marshalled arms of Habsburg, Babenberg and Lorraine, encircled by the a chain bearing the Order of the Golden Fleece, a Catholic order of chivalry, founded in 1430.

Also attributed to Stefan Schwartz, the design is rich and complex, covering the surface of the coin.

The text above reads: · C CORONÆ MDCCCCXV ·', either side of the crown. The Roman numerals read '1915'. The words '100 COR.' appear below, divided by a florist between the eagle's legs. The date - 1915 - is featured at the base of the coin.

The edge of 100 Corona coins is inscribed with the words 'VIRIBUS NITIS' - Franz Joseph's personal motto - which translate's to 'with united forces'.

Investing In Gold 100 Corona Coins

There's a range of reasons you should consider these 1915 Austrian coins as an addition to your portfolio:

• 90% pure gold: These coins contain nearly one troy ounce of fine gold, making them a comparable alternative to other 1oz gold coins like Britannias, Krugerrands and Maple Leafs
• VAT free: As investment gold, 100 Corona bullion coins are not subject to Value Added Tax in the UK and the EU making them a tax-smart investment
• Global reputation: These Austrian restrikes have been in circulation for more than 100 years - gold buyers will instantly recognise them, making it easy to cash them in when the time comes
• Historic appeal: The fascinating story of these restrike Coronas takes us back to pre-war Europe and makes them an interesting piece to add to your stack
• Exceptional design: The portrait of Franz Joseph I and the coat of arms of Austria-Hungary, both rendered by Stefan Schwartz are classic and well-balanced examples of early 20th century numismatic art

Our best value 100 Coronas are offered in good bullion condition, showing typical minor bag marks and limited wear associated with investment coins, none of which impacts their appeal or gold weight.

How To Sell A Austrian 100 Corona?

Are you looking to sell a 1915 100 Corona? We buy these gold coins along with bullion coins and bars from around the world for market-leading prices. Simply click the 'Sell To Us' button above or visit our Sell Your Coins page to get a custom quote.