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. The first type of 50 groschen was struck in aluminium; however, it was shortly replaced by this second type of 50 groschen made aluminium bronze.
Apart from the change in composition, the new type also had a new design; the reverse was designed by Ferdinand Welz, and the obverse by Hans Köttenstorfer.
Austrian 50 Groschen coins issued in 1973 circulated for 29 years until the denomination was demonetised, together with all the other Schilling coinage, in 2002 when the country changed to the Euro currency.
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Within a plain border, the obverse of the coin features a shield divided horizontally into three parts, representing the flag of Austria. The upper and the lower thirds have a background of thin vertical lines, while the centre is plain; this is "heraldic hatching" indicating colour - the vertical lines are for red, and no lines are for white. Thus, it displays the colours of the flag of Austria - red-white-red.
Around the rim, starting at the bottom, the inscription · REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH (Republic of Austria). |
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