Silver Ounce 2019 Leopold V, Coin from Austria - detailed information

Like many other mints, the Austrian Mint (Münze Österreich) issues silver bullion coins in the internationally popular format of one troy ounce (1oz) of silver. The best know of these is the Vienna Philharmonic type, but the mint also issues other designs. The coins are denominated as 1.5 Euros; because they are not in the standard circulating denominations (from 1 Euro Cent to €2), they are legal tender in Austria only and not in the whole Eurozone. Like any bullion coin though, their actual value is based primarily on the metal content and the spot price of that metal on the commodities markets.

The Mint says about this coin:
The first of three coins celebrating the 825th Anniversary of the Vienna Mint is dedicated to a key figure in the monetary history of Austria. A man whose legacy still continues today, Duke Leopold V would no doubt approve of the coin struck in his honour, as it not only contains one ounce of fine silver but is also a coveted collector piece.

In 1191, two crusaders, Duke Leopold V of Austria and King Richard "The Lionheart" of England, quarrelled during the capture of the city of Acre. In December 1192, on his way home from the Holy Land, Richard was taken prisoner by Leopold on the outskirts of Vienna. Held in the Castle of Dürnstein, legend has it that Richard was located by his minstrel Blondel, who travelled from castle to castle singing a song that only he and his master knew. The huge ransom in silver, which Leopold managed to extort from the English in return for Richard’s release, was used to found the original Mint in Vienna in 1194. Leopold also used the silver to settle the land and build strongholds such as Wiener Neustadt. Leopold’s achievements helped Ostarrichi, as Austria was then known, to become a major European power. The coin shows the knight, crusader, adventurer and statesman dressed for battle.