The second coin in the Austrian Mint’s Heavenly Messenger series is all about Gabriel : a powerful being that awes people and brings good news. This wonderful coin may serve you as a talisman, to help you make the right decisions and find surprising solutions: you will be amazed at what you might achieve.
Happy Messages
It was to the prophet Daniel during the time of the Babylonian Exile in the fifth century BCE that the angel Gabriel (“God is my strength”) first spoke. In the Old Testament, Gabriel appears as a false angel; in the New Testament Gabriel appears as an angel of proclamation and a bearer of joyful messages. In the Gospels he is closely associated with the veneration of Mary. And no wonder; it was he who surprised the Virgin Mary with the following words: “You will receive a child, you will give birth to a son: to whom shall you give the name of Jesus” (Luke 1, 26-31).
In the Koran, Gabriel (Ğibrīl) is considered to be the gatekeeper of the heavens and the angel of revelation, who mediates between God and men (Sura 2:97). He always appeared to the prophets in human disguise. Only to the founder of the religion of Islam did he show himself in his heavenly form. Overwhelmed by this phenomenon, Mohammed fainted.
The Coin
The value side shows a lily in its center. This symbol for the angel Gabriel precedes the initial “G”, which is framed by a rich leaf ornament. In the highest stamping quality (“Polished Plate / Proof”), this ornament offers something special: it is colored in orange.
A ring of closely placed dots or beads partitions the design from the outer ring of inscriptions. REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH (technically, R * E * P * U * B * L * I * K Ö * S * T * E * R * R * E * I * C * H) is inscribed clockwise along the top three-quarters of the rim. The denomination of 10 EURO (1 * 0 E * U * R * O) is found at the bottom. The date, 2017, is located near the bottom.
The Gabriel portrait on the reverse side is a fragmentary reproduction of a picture whose origin is suspected to be from the 15th or 16th century; it is also assumed that the artist is a representative of the German School.
The depiction shows the angel Gabriel as a youth with curly hair and a halo. Looking to the side, he raises a hand in blessing. His wings are made of peacock feathers.
The edges of both the silver and copper 2017 Gabriel – The Annunciation Angel coins are smooth.
The coin Gabriel: The Annunciation Angel is the second of four angel coins. All coins draw from art history and are interreligious.
Designer(s):
Austrian Mint designer Helmut Andexlinger is one of the world’s leading coin designers. He has created a number of prize-winning coin designs (View Designer’s Profile).
Herbert Wähner is a designer and engraver at the Austrian Mint. Both men studied at the Fachschule für Metalldesign in Steyr, Austria.
Coin Specifications:
| Country: | Austria |
| Year Of Issue: | 2017 |
| Denomination: | 10 Euro |
| Mint Mark: | |
| Mintage: | Silver: 60,000; Copper: 130,000 |
| Alloy: | .925 Silver; Copper |
| Weight: | Silver: 16.82g; Copper: 15.00g |
| Diameter: | 32.00 mm |
| Thickness: | |
| Edge: | Smooth |
| OBV Designer | Helmut Andexlinger / Herbert Wähner |
| REV Designer | Helmut Andexlinger / Herbert Wähner |
| Quality: | Proof & Special Uncirculated (Silver); Uncirculated (Copper) |
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