One Groschen, Coin Type from Austria - detailed information

One Groschen, Coin Type from Austria (issued 1947 - 1947)
Coin TypeOne Groschen

The One Groschen was worth 1/100 of a schilling, and was the smallest denomination in the Austrian Schilling currency, which 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, 5, 10, and 50 groschen were initially made from leftover blanks from the wartime German pfennig issues. 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). The 1 groschen was only struck dated 1947 (the coins were actually produced from 1947 to 1950 but keeping the same "frozen" date) and was then discontinued.

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

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

Obverse
Austria / One Groschen - obverse photo

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 / One Groschen - reverse photo

The reverse shows at its centre a large numeral 1 for the value. Around above, the name of the denomination: GROSCHEN. The date 1947 is below the value.

Around below, a decoration of seven flowers.

Reverse Inscription 1 · GROSCHEN · 1947
EdgePlainEdge 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: One Groschen - (1) Coins
Coin NameReverseObverseDetails
One Groschen 1947 Austria / One Groschen 1947 - reverse photo Austria / One Groschen 1947 - obverse photo Material: Zinc
Mint: Austrian Mint
Mintage: 23,460,000
Advertising
Buy Austrian Silver Philharmonics Online
Buy Austrian Silver Philharmonics Online
One Groschen: Details
CountryAustria
CurrencyAustrian Schilling
From1947
To1947
Face Value1 (x Groschen)
CurrentNo (demonetised 2002)
MaterialZinc
DesignerAdolf Hofmann, Arnold Hartig, Michael Powolny
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size17.0000 mm
Thickness1.2500 mm
Mass1.8000 g