DECEMBER 2005

Registry Awards Deadline is TODAY, December 16th

Please make sure you have made all of your entries and upgrades before midnight east coast time.

Good luck to everyone! Click here for more information about the 2005 NGC Registry Awards.

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New Registry Set Categories Open

More new categories have been added for collectors of Canadian coins:

• 1858-1901 Circulation Issue Five Cents
• 1902-1910 Circulation Issue Five Cents
• 1911-1921 Circulation Issue Five Cents
• 1953-1967 PL Ten Cents
• 1858-1901 Circulation Issue Ten Cents
• 1902-1910 Circulation Issue Ten Cents
• 1911-1936 Circulation Issue Ten Cents
• 1937-1952 Circulation Issue Ten Cents
• 1953-1968 Circulation Issue Ten Cents

These and other Canada Registry Sets can be viewed here:

http://www.collectors-society.com/registry/coins/TopSets.aspx?CategoryID=48

Click here to learn more about the NGC Registry.

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By Tom & Donna Krischan - Big Bend, Wisconsin

Minor Coins of the Austrian Empire 1892 - 1918

Collecting coins is a great way for the ordinary person to possess history. Coins, especially older pieces, have been handled by dozens, if not hundreds, of persons before they come to rest with you. These coins will, in time, be passed along to dozens of other people, most of who have not yet been born. If only coins could talk, what an interesting story they would tell...

In 1848, revolution swept through Vienna. Ferdinand abdicated the Austrian throne and Francis Joseph was crowned the new Emperor. He was only 18 years old. Francis Joseph ruled over a declining empire. France defeated his 1859 army and forced the succession of Lombardy to Sardinia. Prussia defeated his 1866 army, Austria lost Holstein to Prussia and succeeded Venetia to Italy.

Francis Joseph lived an unlucky life. In 1853, he was stabbed in the neck during an assassination attempt. In 1867, his brother Maximilian was captured and executed by the Mexican army. In 1889, his only son Rudolf committed suicide and was found with his slain mistress. In 1896, his last remaining brother, Charles Louis, died. In 1898, his wife Elizabeth was assassinated in Geneva, Switzerland. In 1914, his nephew Francis Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo. Austria declared war on Serbia, which began World War I. Four years later, the Austrian Empire vanished.

In 1892, Austria adopted the gold standard. Austrian money was reformed and new coins were minted. The one Corona, the new silver coin, came to equal 100 Hellers. The world exchange rate for one Corona was approximately 20 U. S. cents. Coins were minted containing the traditional and Germanic Habsburg family crest. Members of the Habsburg family were once the Kings of Germany. Francis Joseph maintained this strong connection with Germany, especially during World War I. However, the war was not going well for Austria, the Austrian economy was ruined and Francis Joseph’s health was failing. In 1916 Francis Joseph died and the new emperor, Karl, ascended to the throne.

Karl was the grandnephew of Francis Joseph and became Austria’s last Emperor. Karl was 29 when he ascended to the throne. He inherited a demoralized army, a sinking fleet, and an economy in ruins. To make matters worse, on December 7th 1917, the United States declared war on Austria. Karl was not eager to continue the war and looked to separate Austria’s interests from those of Germany. Between 1916 and 1918, coins were reminted. The traditional Habsburg family crest with its old German tie was removed and replaced with the singular Austrian crest. Some historians believed that Austria had attempted to settle a truce to the war on its own behalf, but this was not to be. Karl was forced to unconditionally surrender. On November 11th 1918, two years to the day after the death of Francis Joseph, Karl abdicated the Austrian crown. The Austrian Empire was dissolved. Four years later, he died of pneumonia.

Today, Austrian Empire coins are easy and cheap to collect. Compared to similarly dated United States issues, Austrian Empire coins are a bargain. For instance, let's compare the approximate value of two very similar 1896 coins. An 1896 United States "Indian Head" 1 Cent coin of extra fine condition is valued at $11. An 1896 Austrian Empire 2 Heller of identical condition is listed at only 75 cents. Both coins are nearly identical in diameter and thickness, both are highly detailed and attractive, and both are bronze based. Over a century ago, each was stamped out in approximately 40 million issues. Nowadays, United States coins are much more aggressively collected than Austrian Empire coins. Attempting to complete an Indian Head series is a costly endeavor. By comparison, completing a 2 Heller series remains very affordable. Collecting Austrian Empire coins is an inexpensive hobby.

There were four denominations of Austrian Empire 1892 – 1918 minor coins: 1 Heller, 2 Heller, 10 Heller, and 20 Heller. The 1 and 2 Heller were bronze based, while the 10 and 20 Heller were nickel based. During World War I, the bases of many of these coins were changed to either iron, or to a copper-nickel-zinc composition.

Denominations were not minted for each and every year. The 1 Heller was minted for 20 years, 2 Heller for 27 years, 10 Heller for 11 years, and 20 Heller for 12 years. However, during some years, there were two distinct issues of the same denomination. In 1916, the 1 Heller and 10 Heller were produced with two different crests (the Habsburg crest and the Austrian crest).

The reverse side of every Heller displayed the mint year and denomination. The obverse side presented a two-headed eagle with a central crest across its chest. In one claw the eagle held an orb. In the other claw the eagle grasped a sword and staff. A large crown rose above the eagle and two smaller crowns were on each head. A circle of rounds that edged the coin surrounded the eagle.

Coins are more than a series of minted dates and obscure symbols. Coins are about history and people and lost empires. When collecting coins, take some time to research beyond the faces and value of each coin. There is an interesting story of a fascinating period of history behind each and every one.

Table 1. shows a listing of scarce coin dates.

Table 1. Austrian Empire Scarce Dates To Collect

• 1 Heller: 1892, 1898, and 1899
• 2 Heller: 1892, 1901, and 1905
• 10 Heller: 1892 and 1911
• 20 Heller: 1892 and 1914

1 Heller (Emperor Francis Joseph, Habsburg Crest, Bronze)

2 Heller (Emperor Francis Joseph, Habsburg Crest, Bronze)

10 Heller (Emperor Francis Joseph, Habsburg Crest, Nickel)

20 Heller (Emperor Francis Joseph, Habsburg Crest, Nickel)

1 Heller (Emperor Karl, middle of World War I, Austrian Crest, Bronze)

10 Heller (Emperor Karl, middle of World War I, Austrian Crest, Copper-Nickel-Zinc)

2 Heller (Emperor Karl, end of World War I, Austrian Crest, Iron)

20 Heller (Emperor Karl, end of World War I, Austrian Crest, Iron)

About the Authors

Tom and Donna Krischan are professional photographers and freelance writers in Big Bend, Wisconsin. They specialize in close-up photography of garden flowers. They enjoy collecting coins and historical facts about the 1740-1918 Austrian Empire.

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