Austrian 5 Schilling

One of the most intriguing aspects of the Austrian 5 Schilling coin is its role in the country's shift to a nickel standard, which helped combat the inflation woes left over from the Great War's aftermath. Struck between 1934 and 1938 at the Vienna mint, these coins bore a simple federal eagle on the obverse, a deliberate nod to the new republic's austerity.

The coin's composition was straightforward: pure nickel, weighing about 6.5 grams and measuring 23 millimeters across. That made it durable for everyday use, though it lacked the heft of earlier silver issues. Mintage figures vary by year, with 1935 seeing a spike due to economic demands, but exact numbers for some issues remain murky—records from that era aren't always reliable.

Variations exist, like the 1936 proof strikes, which were probably for official sets rather than circulation. Don't mistake these for the pre-war schilling notes; that's a common error among newcomers. As for rarity, the 1938 coin might fetch a premium today, but it's no unicorn—plenty are still floating around collections.