Austrian 1916 20 Heller
Austria
1916
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Specifications
| Country | Austria |
| Years Minted | 1916 |
| Composition | Zinc |
| Weight | 4 g |
| Diameter | 22 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Plain |
Design
Obverse
Features the Austrian imperial eagle with inscriptions including the state name.
Reverse
Displays the denomination '20 Heller' and the year '1916'.
History & Notable Facts
The 1916 Austrian 20 Heller was struck from zinc, a cheap substitute that made it feel as substantial as a wartime ration.
This emergency coin emerged amid World War I's metal shortages, when copper vanished into shell casings and bullets. Austria's mints scrambled for alternatives, turning to zinc that was abundant but prone to corrosion. The design kept things simple: a straightforward imperial eagle on one side, the denomination on the other. We don't know the precise mintage; those records likely perished in postwar chaos.
Some variants show rough edges from hurried production. As for myths, I've heard tales of these coins being hoarded for their "intrinsic value," but zinc was worth less than the paper it replaced. That's numismatics for you—plenty of stories, few facts.
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