Vienna's Unique Currency: Exploring Austria's Capital Coins

Austria's currency is the Euro, which has been in use since 2002. The currency is shared with 19 other countries in the Eurozone. While there is no such thing as an 'Austrian' Euro, Austria does mint its own coins, which can be used across the Eurozone. Vienna appears on three of the Austrian-minted coins: the Secession building (50 cents), Belvedere (20 cents), and Stephansdom cathedral (10 cents).

Vienna appears on Austrian-minted coins

Vienna appears on three Austrian-minted coins: the Secession building coin, the Belvedere coin, and the Stephansdom cathedral coin. These coins are in denominations of 50 cents, 20 cents, and 10 cents, respectively. The Secession building, completed in 1898, is a distinctive, large, and ornate building that was constructed to serve as an exhibition hall for the Vienna Secession, a group of rebel artists who broke away from the mainstream artistic movement of the time. The Belvedere is a historic building complex that houses the Austrian Gallery, showcasing art from the Middle Ages to the present day. Stephansdom is the final resting place of members of the Habsburg family and is known for its stunning Gothic and Baroque architecture.

Austria uses the Euro as its currency and has done so since 2002. One Euro is made up of 100 cents, and the Euro currency is shared with numerous other European countries within the Eurozone. Euro coins come in the following denominations: one, two, five, 10, 20, and 50 cents, as well as one and two Euros.

Before the Euro, Austria used the Schilling from 1925 to 2002, with a brief interruption between 1938 and 1945 when the German Reichsmark was the official currency. While the Schilling is no longer in circulation, some older Austrians still refer to it in conversation.

The currency in Austria is the Euro

Austria is part of the Eurozone, which means that the Euro is shared with numerous other European countries: Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Croatia, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. This means that each country's coins are accepted across the Eurozone, so in Vienna, you will find coins from many different countries, with German-minted coins being particularly common.

Before the Euro, Austria used the Schilling (ATS) from 1925 to 2002, with a brief break from 1938 to 1945 when the German Reichsmark was used as the official currency. While Schillings are no longer accepted as payment in Austria, they can be exchanged for Euros at the Austrian National Bank.

While cards are accepted in many places in Austria, it is not a cashless society, and it is recommended to carry some cash, especially smaller notes and coins. This is particularly important for museums, where you will need coins for lockers, and for public toilets, which often require a 20 or 50 cent coin.

Euro banknotes and coins

Austria mints its own coins with a national design on one side, but these coins can be used throughout the eurozone. Austrian euro coins come in the standard eight denominations: one cent, two cents, five cents, ten cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, €1, and €2. The 'common' side of the coin used across the eurozone features the numerical value of the coin and a map of the European Union. On the reverse 'national' side, all coins bear the same design, which has been modified three times since Austria adopted the euro.

Vienna appears on three of the Austrian-minted coins: the Secession building (50 cents), Belvedere (20 cents), and Stephansdom cathedral (10 cents).

The Secession building, Belvedere, and Stephansdom cathedral are on coins

Vienna, Austria, uses the Euro as its currency, with a full range of Euro coins and notes. Interestingly, Vienna appears on three of the Austrian-minted coins: the Secession building, the Belvedere, and Stephansdom cathedral.

The Secession building, completed in 1898 by Joseph Maria Olbrich, is a contemporary art exhibition hall in Vienna. It was selected to feature on the national side of the €0.50 Austrian coin. The building is also the main motif on the 100 euro Secession commemorative coin, minted in November 2004. The motto of the Secessionist movement, "To every age its art, to every art its freedom" is written above the entrance of the pavilion.

The Belvedere, a Baroque palace with 800 years of art history, is featured on the 20-cent coin. The palace is home to masterpieces by Klimt, Schiele, Funke, Messerschmidt, and van Gogh.

Stephansdom (St. Stephen's Cathedral) is the visual image most closely associated with historical Vienna. This Gothic cathedral with Baroque fittings and a multi-coloured tiled roof is featured on the 10-cent coin. The initial foundation stone of Stephansdom dates back to 1137, and the current incarnation of the cathedral has its origins in the mid-13th century.

Austria's currency before the Euro

The currency of Austria before the introduction of the Euro was the Austrian schilling. The schilling was first established by the Schilling Act (Schillingrechnungsgesetz) on 20 December 1924 at a rate of one schilling to 10,000 kronen. It was issued on 1 March 1925 and was the country's currency until 1938 when Germany annexed Austria, replacing the schilling with the German Reichsmark.

After World War II, the Allied Military reintroduced the schilling on 30 November 1945. The first coins were issued in 1946, and the exchange rate to the Reichsmark was 1:1, limited to 150 schillings per person. The schilling was divided into 100 groschen.

The schilling remained Austria's currency until 1999 when the country formally adopted the euro. However, the schilling was still used alongside the euro until 2002 when dual circulation ended, and the euro became the official currency. The Oesterreichische Nationalbank (Austrian National Bank) continues to exchange schillings for euros at a rate of 13.7603 to one.

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