| Coin | Ten Diners 2009 Life of Chopin - Vienna 1829 |
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This crown-sized Ten Diners (10 D.) commemorative coin was issued as part of an eight-coin set commemorating the life of Frédéric Chopin, each highlighting a different period of his life.
Frédéric François Chopin (born Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin) was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist of the Romantic era who wrote primarily for solo piano. He has maintained worldwide renown as a leading musician of his era, one whose "poetic genius was based on a professional technique that was without equal in his generation". 2009 marked 160 years since his death in 1849, while the next year marked the 200th anniversary of his birth in 1810 and was declared Worldwide Year of Chopin - 2010.
This coin is dedicated to his international debut in Vienna in 1829, where he gave two piano concerts and received many favourable reviews. Chopin's successes as a composer and performer opened the door to western Europe for him, and on 2 November 1830, he set out "into the wide world, with no very clearly defined aim, forever".
Inscriptions on the coin are in the Catalan language. It was issued in proof grade only. |
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| Obverse | |
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Surrounded by a plain rim, the obverse of the coin shows at its centre the Coat of Arms of the Principality of Andorra consisting of a shield divided quarterly by the arms of the Bishop of Urgell and the Count of Foix - who have historically been the two co-princes of Andorra - in addition to the emblems of Catalonia and the Viscount of Béarn.
The four traditional quarters are (clockwise from top left):
- that of the Bishopric of Urgell, represented by a mitre and a crosier (staff);
- that of Foix, with three vertical stripes;
- that of Béarn, represented by two cows with cow-bells around their necks, walking to left;
- that of Catalonia, with four vertical stripes.
The shield is surrounded by an "aureola". A scroll below it carries the Latin motto VIRTVS VNITA FORTIOR (in modern spelling: "Virtus Unita Fortior"), meaning "United virtue is stronger".
Around above, the inscription PRINCIPAT D' ANDORRA (Principality of Andorra).
Below, divided by the Coat of Arms, the value and denomination 10 D. (Ten Diners).
Around below, the date of issue 2009. |
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| Reverse | |
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Flanked by a five-line staff (musical lines) with G-clefs on each side, the centre of the coin shows the standing figures of Frédéric Chopin on the left, looking towards the building of the Theater am Kärntnertor (Carinthian Gate Theatre) on the right. The Carinthian Gate Theatre was a prestigious theatre in Vienna during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Its official title was Kaiserliches und Königliches Hoftheater zu Wien, the "Imperial and Royal Court Theatre of Vienna".
Around above, in large letters, the name of the musician in Catalan: FRYDERYK CHOPIN; below that in smaller letters and on two lines, the Catalan name of the theatre: TEATRE KAERNTNERTOR.
Around below, VIENA 1829 (Vienna 1829). |
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| Reverse Inscription |
FRYDERYK CHOPIN TEATRE KAERNTNERTOR VIENA 1829 |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Included in Set |
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Frédéric Chopin Anniversary 1810 - 1849 (Life of Chopin), mintage 1,200, limited to 1,810
8 coins: 10 D. Warsaw 1821, 10 D. Vienna 1829, 10 D. Paris 1832, 10 D. Dresden 1836, 10 D. Mallorca 1838, 10 D. - Paris 1848, 10 D. - Paris 1849, 10 D. Warsaw 1849
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