Gold Half Ounce 2019 Magic of Gold - Gold of Mesopotamia, Coin from Austria - detailed information

Gold Half Ounce 2019 Magic of Gold - Gold of Mesopotamia, Coin from Austria
CoinGold Half Ounce 2019 Magic of Gold - Gold of Mesopotamia

Like many other mints, the Austrian Mint (Münze Österreich) produces a variety of coins in precious metals targeted at collectors or investors. Most of these are in formats based on the internationally popular troy ounce, including in the half ounce (1/2oz) of gold format. The most famous range that the mint produces is the Vienna Philharmonic, but it also strikes gold half ounces with other themes.

This coin is the first release in the Magic of Gold six-coin series, and features the Gold of Mesopotamia.

The mint says about it:
No other metal has as much symbolic meaning as gold. The six-piece 100 euro Magic of Gold series traces that meaning through different ancient cultures. The first of those cultures is Mesopotamia, "the land between two rivers", the Tigris and the Euphrates, where some of the most important developments in early human history occurred.

The Gold of Mesopotamia coin features a portrait of the legendary ruler King Nebuchadnezzar II (circa 640-562 BC) wearing a horned crown. According to the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament, Nebuchadnezzar erected a huge golden statue and made his subjects worship it on their knees. As elsewhere, in Mesopotamia the ownership of gold was associated with high standing. It was reserved for the powerful and all gold had to be handed over to the ruling class and the religious authorities. Mesopotamian gold was mainly sourced from Egypt, where it was believed that the streets were paved with the precious metal. The other side of the coin shows a bull’s head from a detail found on the Golden Lyre of Ur, which was discovered in 1929 in the Royal Cemetery of Ur, located in present day Iraq. Created roughly 4,500 years ago, the lyre is considered to be one of the world’s oldest surviving string instruments.

All six coins in the Magic of Gold series feature ancient art treasures, and the word "gold" is written on each of them in the respective script of the culture they explore.

MintAustrian Mint Mint MarkNo mint mark Total Mintage 20,000
Obverse
Austria / Gold Half Ounce 2019 Magic of Gold - Gold of Mesopotamia - obverse photo

The obverse of the coin features a portrait of the legendary ruler King Nebuchadnezzar II wearing a horned crown. Behind him, one of the gates of Babylon; in front, a statue of a winged lion. Below left, the word "gold" written in cuneiform.

Around above, the legend REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH (translated from German: Republic of Austria).

On two lines above left, the face value and denomination: 100 EURO, below which the date of issue 2019.

Obverse Inscription REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH 100 EURO 2019
Reverse
Austria / Gold Half Ounce 2019 Magic of Gold - Gold of Mesopotamia - reverse photo

The reverse depicts a bull's head decorated with a fake Babylonian-style beard, surrounded by a geometric pattern - which is a detail from the 4,500 years old Golden Lyre of Ur.

There is no inscription.

Reverse Inscription (none)
EdgePlainEdge InscriptionNone
Notes

Gold content (Troy oz): 0.500
Finish: proof.
Packaging: in capsule and presentation box, with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.
Austrian Mint Product No. 23623.
Release date: 16 October 2019.

See also

Coins in the Magic of Gold series:
- 1/2 oz Gold, Gold of Mesopotamia, 2019
- 1/2 oz Gold, Gold of the Pharaohs, 2020
- 1/2 oz Gold, Gold of the Incas, 2021
- 1/2 oz Gold, Gold of the Scythians, 2022
- 1/2 oz Gold, Gold of India, 2023
- 1/2 oz Gold, Gold of China, 2024

All (29) coins of type: Gold Half Ounce (1/2 oz)
Coin NameMintageLegend
Gold Half Ounce 2002 Vienna Philharmonic 40,922 REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH 1/2 UNZE GOLD 999.9 2002 50 EURO
Gold Half Ounce 2003 Vienna Philharmonic 26,848 REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH 1/2 UNZE GOLD 999.9 2003 50 EURO
Gold Half Ounce 2004 Vienna Philharmonic 24,269 REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH 1/2 UNZE GOLD 999.9 2004 50 EURO
Gold Half Ounce 2005 Vienna Philharmonic 21,049 REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH 1/2 UNZE GOLD 999.9 2005 50 EURO
Gold Half Ounce 2006 Vienna Philharmonic 20,085 REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH 1/2 UNZE GOLD 999.9 2006 50 EURO
Gold Half Ounce 2007 Vienna Philharmonic 25,091 REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH 1/2 UNZE GOLD 999.9 2007 50 EURO
Gold Half Ounce 2008 Vienna Philharmonic 73,778 REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH 1/2 UNZE GOLD 999.9 2008 50 EURO
Gold Half Ounce 2009 Vienna Philharmonic 92,249 REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH 1/2 UNZE GOLD 999.9 2009 50 EURO
Gold Half Ounce 2010 Vienna Philharmonic 56,607 REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH 1/2 UNZE GOLD 999.9 2010 50 EURO
Gold Half Ounce 2011 Vienna Philharmonic 73,488 REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH 1/2 UNZE GOLD 999.9 2011 50 EURO
Gold Half Ounce 2012 Vienna Philharmonic 49,483 REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH 1/2 UNZE GOLD 999.9 2012 50 EURO
Gold Half Ounce 2013 Vienna Philharmonic 69,573 REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH 1/2 UNZE GOLD 999.9 2013 50 EURO
Gold Half Ounce 2014 Vienna Philharmonic 57,816 REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH 1/2 UNZE GOLD 999.9 2014 50 EURO
Gold Half Ounce 2015 Vienna Philharmonic 101,500 REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH 1/2 UNZE GOLD 999.9 2015 50 EURO
Gold Half Ounce 2016 Vienna Philharmonic 78,460 REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH 1/2 UNZE GOLD 999.9 2016 50 EURO
Gold Half Ounce 2017 Vienna Philharmonic 52,281 REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH 1/2 UNZE GOLD 999.9 2017 50 EURO
Gold Half Ounce 2018 Vienna Philharmonic 44,750 REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH 1/2 UNZE GOLD 999.9 2018 50 EURO
Gold Half Ounce 2019 Vienna Philharmonic 40,890 REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH 1/2 UNZE GOLD 999.9 2019 50 EURO
Gold Half Ounce 2019 Magic of Gold - Gold of Mesopotamia 20,000 REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH 100 EURO 2019
Gold Half Ounce 2020 Vienna Philharmonic 112,430 REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH 1/2 UNZE GOLD 999.9 2020 50 EURO
Gold Half Ounce 2020 Magic of Gold - Gold of the Pharaohs 20,000 REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH 100 EURO 2020
Gold Half Ounce 2021 Vienna Philharmonic unknown REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH 1/2 UNZE GOLD 999.9 2021 50 EURO
Gold Half Ounce 2021 Magic of Gold - Gold of the Incas 20,000 REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH 100 EURO 2021
Gold Half Ounce 2022 Vienna Philharmonic unknown REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH 1/2 UNZE GOLD 999.9 2022 50 EURO
Gold Half Ounce 2022 Magic of Gold - Gold of the Scythians 20,000 REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH 100 EURO 2022
Gold Half Ounce 2023 Vienna Philharmonic unknown REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH 1/2 UNZE GOLD 999.9 2023 50 EURO
Gold Half Ounce 2023 Magic of Gold - Gold of India 20,000 REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH 100 EURO 2023
Gold Half Ounce 2024 Vienna Philharmonic unknown REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH 1/2 UNZE GOLD 999.9 2024 50 EURO
Gold Half Ounce 2024 Magic of Gold - Gold of China 20,000 REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH 100 EURO 2024
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Gold Half Ounce 2019 Magic of Gold - Gold of Mesopotamia: Details
CountryAustria
CurrencyEuro, Austria
Coin TypeGold Half Ounce (1/2 oz)
Issued2019
Face Value100 (x Euro, Austria)
Total Mintage20,000
CurrentYes
Material0.986 Gold
DesignerHelmut Andexlinger, Herbert Wähner
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size30.0000 mm
Mass15.7800 g
OCC IDANMQ-OPYC-NNVJ-EJYG
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Gold Half Ounce 2019 Magic of Gold - Gold of Mesopotamia: Photos
ImageDetails
Gold Half Ounce 2019 Magic of Gold - Gold of Mesopotamia: Photo 100 Euro Gold of Mesopotamia Coin, Proof / thumbnail 100 Euro Gold of Mesopotamia Coin, Proof
Copyright: Austrian Mint
Source
Gold Half Ounce 2019 Magic of Gold - Gold of Mesopotamia: Photo 100 Euro Gold of Mesopotamia Coin, Proof / thumbnail 100 Euro Gold of Mesopotamia Coin, Proof
Copyright: Austrian Mint
Source
Gold Half Ounce 2019 Magic of Gold - Gold of Mesopotamia: Catalogue Reference IDs
SourceReference ID
Krause, Standard Catalog of World CoinsAustria KM# 3304