The Austrian (also Vienna) Philharmonic is the best-selling gold coin in Europe. Attesting to its international popularity as one of the "pure gold coins" the Philharmonic led sales worldwide in 1992, 1995 and 1996, according to the World Gold Council. In 2008, at the height of the worldwide credit-financial crisis, more one-ounce Philharmonics were sold on a global basis than U.S. Eagles or Krugerrands. Like its competitors, the Philharmonic tracks the gold price and is internationally liquid.

 

The obverse of the coin depicts the great organ in Vienna's concert hall, home of the famed Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

 

The obverse shows a harmonious medley of musical instruments - a string base, cellos, violins, a bassoon, harp and Viennese horn.

 

The Philharmonic is minted in one-ounce (troy), half-ounce, quarter-ounce and one-tenth ounce sizes with successive face values of 100, 50, 25 and 10 euros respectively. Earlier mintages before the creation of the euro were denominated in schillings.