The Twenty Groschen was worth 20/100 (one fifth) 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 20 groschen were struck in aluminium-bronze.
The reverse of the coin is designed by Benno Rost, and the obverse by Michael Powolny.
The denomination was short lived; there were only three issues between 1950 and 1954, after which time it was discontinued; the coins were demonetised on 30 April 1959. |
| Obverse | |
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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.
There is no inscription. |
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