The Austria design for euro coins
 |
Bertha von Suttner Bertha von Suttner’s (1843-1914) image is surrounded by the twelve stars of the European Union. Baroness Bertha von Suttner was an Austrian writer and journalist. Born Bertha Kinsky, she published in 1889 her novel Die Waffen Nieder which means “Lay down the weapons”. This work was translated in to 15 languages. As a symbol of the efforts deployed in the name of peace, Bertha von Suttner contributed to the Foundation of the Austrian Peace league. She influenced Alfred Nobel, the Swedish industrial and chemist who at the end of his life founded the prize rewarding the authors of literary scientific and philanthropic works. Bertha Von Suttner received the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1905. |
 |
Mozart This portrait of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is surrounded by the twelve stars of the European Union. Mozart’s signature also appears. A famous Austrian composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg in 1756 and died in Vienna in 1791. He and his sister Nannerl proved to be exceptionally gifted musicians, to the pride of their grandfather Leopold. Mozart was gifted with perfect pitch and started improvising on the piano from the age of five and started playing the violin although he had never had formal lessons. Invited throughout Europe he was just as inspired by Italian comic opera as by German Singspiel or operetta; he composed tirelessly and the Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, the Magic flute and his famous Requiem, written the year he died, feature among his many works. |
 |
The Secession building A frontal image of the Secession exhibition hall in Vienna, surrounded by “50 EURO CENT”, features on the coin. The Secession’s dome is covered with gold-coloured metal laurel leaves and is sometimes called “the golden cabbage”. It overhangs the frontispiece on which can be read the motto “To every age its art, to art its freedom.” The Secession in Vienna, a union of Austrian artists, was led by Gustav Klimt, whose famous Beethoven Frieze adorns the side of the building’s nave. The Secession building, built by Joseph Maria Olbrich in 1897-1898 is the symbol of Jugendstil, or Art Nouveau, which spread throughout Europe. |
 |
The Belvedere Palace Through the imposing door of the Lower Belvedere Palace the Upper Belvedere can be seen. This imposing door is mounted by a wrought-iron pediment which bears the Croix de Savoie. Prince Eugene de Savoie-Carignan (1663-1736) was the son of the Count of Soisson and of Mazarin’s niece, Olympe Mancini, and entered the service of the Emperor of Austria. Covered in glory and wealth the Prince had the Belvedere built, and it is today the most beautiful baroque architectural complex in Austria and Europe. It dominates the city of Vienna and today houses a museum and a famous collection of Gustav Klimt’s works. |
 |
St Stephen’s Cathedral This design represents St Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, also known as Stephansdom. The roof is dominated by the South Tower and the eight-sided Pagans’ tower and is covered with varnished tiles which are suggested here by the regular grooves. The roof is also stamped with the two headed eagle which is the symbol of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The south tower, or St Stephen’s tower, of the Cathedral is also called Steffi and is 137 metres at its highest point. The XIIth century Romanesque basilica was destroyed by fire and became St Stephen’s in 1469. It is a jewel of German Gothic art though baroque art can be seen inside the cathedral. Eugene of Savoie-Carignan is buried in the cathedral and Mozart and Constance Weber were married there in 1782. |
 |
The primrose This design shows several Alpine primroses. The corollas are open; a leaf with a small stalk can be seen. The inscription « FÜNF EURO CENT », the coat of arms and the year the coin was minted are featured, as they are on all of Austria’s coins. The primrose is the symbol of spring. The primula hirsuta, which catches insects, is the most common. The corolla’s tube is three times as long as the calyx and only insects with a long proboscis can pollinate them. The Alpine primrose symbolises Austria’s dedication to environmental policies both on a national and a European level. |
 |
The edelweiss This Alpine flower, the edelweiss is drawn with accuracy: the small capitula are bunched together and a leaf in the shape of a lance head grows out of the stalk. Edelweiss is a German word: edel means noble and weiss means white. Edelweiss is also commonly called “lion’s foot”. In the Tyrol province of Austria, Edelweiss was used in local medicine which earned it is name of “flower that heals stomach pains”. Edelweiss is the symbol of Austria and many organisations. It also symbolises Austria’s dedication to environmental policies both on a national and a European level. |
 |
The gentian Gentian is a mountain flower that has a bell shaped corolla. Its root is used in the preparation of a bitter liqueur, alcoholic drinks and medicine. In the Tyrol province it is called Schlüsselblume which means primrose and in lower Austria Vergissmeinnicht which can be translated as “Forget me not”, just as in English. Gentian from Bavaria sometimes flowers at Easter time and its intensely blue corolla are used to dye eggs in the regions where this custom prevails, to children’s delight. Gentian also symbolises Austria’s dedication to environmental policies both on a national and a European level. |