The Fifty Groschen was worth one half of a schilling, and was a small circulating denomination of the Austrian Schilling, 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. This first type of 50 groschen was struck in aluminium (98.5% aluminium, 1.5% magnesium); however, it was only issued in this format until 1955, after which time the denomination changed to a second type of 50 groschen in aluminium bronze.
Both the reverse and the obverse are designed by Michael Powolny.
The 50 Groschen made from aluminium were demonetised on 2 June 1961.
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| 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.
Around the rim, the inscription REPUBLIK · ÖSTERREICH · (Republic of Austria). |
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse of the coin shows a large numeral 50 for the value at centre, overlaid on a shield displaying the national flag (thin vertical stripes in the upper and lower third, and a plain centre indicating its colours: red-wahite-red), behind which two crossed sheaves of wheat. The value is given again in words above: FÜNFZIG (fifty), with denomination GROSCHEN around below.
The date 1955 is small and is below the shield, divided in two by its bottom point. |
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