Austrian 20 Euro 1998
Austria
1998–2001
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Estimated Melt Value
$49.63
Based on Silver spot price ($81.40/oz) · 92.5% purity · 20.5g
Updated 7:53 PM
Collector premium not included
Specifications
| Country | Austria |
| Years Minted | 1998–2001 |
| Composition | 92.5% silver |
| Weight | 20.5 g |
| Diameter | 34 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Reeded |
Design
Obverse
Features the Austrian coat of arms and the inscription 'Republik Österreich'.
Reverse
Depicts a theme specific to the year, such as the Vienna Hofburg for 1998.
History & Notable Facts
This 1998 Austrian 20 Euro coin was among the earliest silver commemoratives minted in Euro denominations, predating the currency's official circulation by four years. That move was a bold promotional gambit by the European Union, testing public appetite for the new money.
The coin, struck at the Austrian Federal Mint, features a design by sculptor Adolf Hofmann, depicting a stylized eagle on the obverse and a thematic element on the reverse—likely related to Austria's heritage, though exact motifs vary by year in the series. It's composed of 92.5% silver, weighing 20.58 grams, and was intended for collectors rather than everyday use.
We don't know the precise mintage figures; records from that era can be spotty. As for myths, I've heard tales of these coins being buried as time capsules—no, they just sat in albums.
One upside: at least it didn't require learning a new language for the inscriptions.
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