2017 20.74g Austria Silver 175 years Anniversary Vienna Philharmonic PP

The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra gave what is considered to be its first ever performance on March 28, 1842. Issued in celebration of the 175th anniversary of that “Grand Concert”, and thus the founding of the Vienna Philharmonic, this splendid coin pays homage to the world famous orchestra and its unique sound.

Symphonically splendid

The obverse of the coin features portraits of the orchestra’s three founding fathers, Otto Nicolai, August Schmidt and Alfred Julius Becher. In the background is the deed of incorporation of the orchestra, which was founded on principles of democracy and entrepreneurial initiative. Not only did the original “Grand Concert”, conducted by Otto Nicolai, lay the foundations for technically and musically brilliant performances of classical symphonic works, it also provided the members of the Court Opera Orchestra with an alternative source of income. The coin’s reverse shows a detail from Max Oppenheimer’s 15m2 triptych “Die Philharmoniker”, which hangs in the Belvedere museum in Vienna.