Five Groschen, Coin Type from Austria - detailed information

Five Groschen, Coin Type from Austria (issued 1948 - 1994)
Coin TypeFive Groschen

The Five Groschen was worth 5/100 of a schilling, and was the second smallest circulating denomination in the Austrian Schilling currency after the 1 Groschen was discontinued in 1950.

The Schilling was restored as the currency of the Republic of Austria when the republic itself was restored after World War II in 1945. Between 1947 and 1952, coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 groschen; and 1, 2, and 5 schilling were introduced. The 1 and 5 groschen and the first type of 10 groschen were in zinc, which is not very suitable for coinage (it corrodes and wears off fast); however, the denomination was issued in this format in circulation quantities until 1992, and for collectors' sets until 1994.

The reverse of the coin is designed by Adolf Hofmann, and the obverse by Michael Powolny.

Together with all the other Schilling coinage, the 5 Groschen denomination was demonetised after 28 February 2002 when the country changed to the Euro currency.

Obverse
Austria / Five Groschen - obverse photo

Within a plain border, the obverse of the coin features the Coat of Arms of the Republic of Austria, which is an eagle with open wings, crowned with a mural crown (representing a state, and not a monarch), holding a hammer in its left foot (right from the point of view of the viewer) and a sickle in its right foot. Its feet are in shackles, but the chain between them is broken, symbolising a liberated Austria.

On the eagle's breast, the shield of Austria divided into three horizontal stripes representing the national flag, with "heraldic hatching" (thin lines) indicating the colours: red-white-red.

Around the rim, the inscription REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH · (Republic of Austria).

Obverse Inscription REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Reverse
Austria / Five Groschen - reverse photo

The reverse shows at its centre a large numeral 5 for the value; around above, the name of the denomination: · GROSCHEN ·.

Below the value, the date of issue: [year].

Around below, a floral decoration of edelweiss flowers.

Reverse Inscription 5 · GROSCHEN · [year]
EdgeMilledEdge InscriptionNone
Notes

Due to the scarcity of coin blanks, some of the first coins struck between 1947 and 1950 were overstamped on war-time German pfennigs of the same size (1, 5 or 10 Groschen on 1, 5 or 10 Pfennigs respectively), and in some cases details of the host coin are still visible.

Coin Type: Five Groschen - (40) Coins
Coin NameMintageSymbolLegend
Five Groschen 1948 17,269,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1950 19,426,431 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1951 12,454,569 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1953 14,931,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1955 12,288,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1957 26,809,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1961 3,429,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1962 5,999,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1963 13,293,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1964 4,659,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1965 1,293,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1966 9,348,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1967 4,404,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1968 31,434,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1969 (proof only) 44,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1970 (proof only) 144,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1971 (proof only) 125,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1972 11,095,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1973 10,456,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1974 2,998,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1975 7,153,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1976 8,124,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1977 1,645,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1978 2,701,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1979 4,971,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1980 3,148,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1981 499,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1982 4,000,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1983 566,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1984 1,053,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1985 1,959,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1986 1,050,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1987 1,500,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1988 1,303,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1989 2,642,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1990 2,643,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1991 2,427,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1992 696,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1993 (mint sets only) 28,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
Five Groschen 1994 (mint sets only) 25,000 Coat of Arms of Austria REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH ·
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Five Groschen: Details
CountryAustria
CurrencyAustrian Schilling
From1948
To1994
Face Value5 (x Groschen)
CurrentNo (demonetised 2002)
MaterialZinc
DesignerAdolf Hofmann, Michael Powolny
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size19.0000 mm
Thickness1.5400 mm
Mass2.5000 g