Coin Type | Ten Groschen (Zinc) |
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The Ten Groschen was worth 10/100 of a schilling, and was a small circulating denomination of 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 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); after only three issues, in 1951 it was replaced by another type of 10 groschen made from aluminium.
The reverse of the coin is designed by Adolf Hofmann, and the obverse by Michael Powolny.
The 10 Groschen made from zinc were demonetised on 31 May 1959. |
Obverse | |
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). |
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Obverse Inscription |
REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH · |
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Reverse | |
The reverse shows at its centre a large numeral 10 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 gentian flowers. |
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Reverse Inscription |
10 · GROSCHEN · [year] |
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Edge | Plain | Edge Inscription | None |
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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. |
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