Austrian 1970 500 Schilling Schiller

This 1970 Austrian 500 Schilling coin was struck in .900 fine gold, weighing 13.71 grams, to honor Friedrich Schiller on what was likely the 165th anniversary of his death.

That makes it a tangible link to one of Europe's literary giants, whose influence stretched from poetry to politics. The obverse shows Schiller's profile, while the reverse features the Austrian coat of arms—simple, effective design choices for a commemorative piece. We know the Austrian State Mint produced these, but exact mintage figures were never published and might have been lost in administrative shifts.

One curiosity: Schiller himself might have appreciated the irony of his image on currency, given his critiques of monarchical excess.