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HomeWorld CoinsAustria 2012 Piece by Piece: Carinthia 10 Euro Commemorative Coin

Austria 2012 Piece by Piece: Carinthia 10 Euro Commemorative Coin

Carinthia

Description:

Kärnten, known as Carinthia when the name is translated to English, is the southernmost of the nine Austrian states honored among the Austria by Its Children: Piece by Piece series. The second region to be honored in the 10-coin Piece by Piece commemorative coin series, Carinthia thrives on industry, manufacturing, and tourism.

Three of the world’s largest companies have major facilities in Carinthia, including Siemens, Infineon, and Philips.

Topographically, the region is categorically alpine, with a multitude of lakes and rivers found throughout. The area indeed offers plenty for tourists, including medieval landmarks in the towns of Gmünd and Friesach, while the Gurk and Maria Saal cathedrals appeal to architectural buffs and those who enjoy Christian history. Carinthia also has a plethora of scenic lakes, including Faaker See, Millstätter See, and Wörthersee. Meanwhile, fans of winter sports will enjoy the various ski resorts in the alpine regions.

Some of Carinthia’s mountainous nature is celebrated on the 2012 Austria by Its Children coin, which features a reverse design by 10-year-old Philip Ogris, a Carinthian native whose design won in a competition to select scenes for each of the Piece by Piece coins. The obverse of the coin was designed by Austrian Mint chief engraver Thomas Pesendorfer, and sculptor-engraver Helmut Andexlinger formatted Philip’s design on the reverse.

Obverse:

Carinthia’s culturally significant history as a bastion of falconry takes flight on the obverse of the Carinthia coin. Pesendorfer’s design showcases a falconer, her left arm outstretched, smiling as a falcon takes flight from her thick-gloved hand. The falconer wears a combination of traditional and modern falconry apparel, paying homage to the long history of the exotic falcon-breeding industry that continues thriving in Carinthia today.

In the background of the coin are the ruins of the 14th-century Landskron Castle, which is located in the Carinthia’s northeastern city of Villach. REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH is inscribed along the upper rim of the obverse from the 10 o’clock position to the two o’clock position, under which the word FALKNEREI (translates to “FALCONRY”) is inscribed to the left of the falcon. 10 EURO and the coin’s date of issue, 2012, are inscribed in horizontal three lines to the bottom right of the falconer.

Reverse:

carinthiarYoung Philip’s design incorporates a smorgasbord of subjects, all of which hearken to Carinthia’s rich culture. The foreground is dominated by the Wörthersee, a popular summer destination that is whimsically portrayed on the coin with the inclusion of sailboats and fish. Beyond the lake in the midground is the Lindworm of Klagenfurt, a legendary dragon-like creature with wings that, as tradition says, lived in a nearby forest and petrified local villagers to the point of hindering trade in the region.

Behind the Lindworm of Klagenfurt is a dense forest, which is where the demon was rumored to have lived. In the background is the snow-capped alpine mountain of Grossglockner, which is seen with three ibexes standing proudly above the woods below. On the upper-right of the coin, near the two o’clock position is a rising sun, which helps provide Carinthia with some of the balmiest weather anywhere in Austria.

Toward the bottom of the coin are two inscriptions referencing the name of Carinthia. On the bottom right is the German variant, KÄRNTEN; the state’s name is inscribed as KOROSKA on the bottom right to honor the large Slovenian-speaking population in the region, which borders Slovenia.

Designer(s): Austrian Mint designer Thomas Pesendorfer’s coin designs continue to capture the spirit and culture of Austria. To learn more about him: View Designer’s Profile. Additional details about Austrian Mint designer Helmut Andexlinger’s coin designs can be found here:  View Designer’s Profile.

Coin Specifications:

Country:  Austria
Year Of Issue:  2012
Denomination:  10 Euro
Mint Mark:
Mintage:  Silver: 40,000 (Special Unc.), 30,000 (Proof); Copper: 130,000 (Unc.)
Alloy:  .925 Silver; .999 Copper
Weight:  Silver: 17.3 g; Copper: 15 g
Diameter:  32 mm
Edge:  Silver: Smooth; Copper: Rilled
OBV Designer  Thomas Pesendorfer
REV Designer  Philip Ogris / Helmut Andexlinger
Quality:  Silver: Special Uncirculated, Proof; Copper: Uncirculated

Keep up with all the latest coin releases from the world mints by clicking on CoinWeek’s World Coin Profiles Page.

CoinWeek IQ
CoinWeek IQ
With CoinWeek IQ, the editors and writers of CoinWeek dig deeper than the usual numismatic article. CoinWeek IQ provides collectors and numismatists with in-depth information, pedigree histories, and market analysis of U.S. coins and currency.

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