On February 24, The Austrian Mint will issue a silver coin featuring what may be the most famous painting of an animal in the history of European art, Albrecht Dürer’s “Feldhase”.
The reverse bears the classic watercolour of the “Wild Hare” painted by Albrecht Dürer in 1502. The hare was painted with minute, almost scientific details, considered by some to be near-photographic. The hare is depicted alongside a clump of grass and the buds of three crocuses. This side of the coin was painstakingly engraved by the Mint’s chief engraver, Thomas Pesendorfer (View Designer’s Profile).
The obverse of the nine-sided coin is the standard 5-euro design, with the denomination encircled by the shields of the nine federal provinces of Austria. In the center is the face value of 5 euros. Mint engraver Helmut Andexlinger (View Designer’s Profile) designed the obverse.
Albrecht Dürer was born in Nuremberg, one of 17 children whose father was a goldsmith. Only three children survived childhood. His father believed in education and probably wasn’t too happy with the path his son chose. Albrecht was a very prolific painter. He died at the age of 56.
The iconic painting of the “Wild Hare” is in the vast collection of the Albertina Museum in Vienna. Dürer was one of the earliest painters to recognize animals as a subject to capture as a form of art. The fine details of this painting have kept many wondering over the centuries how Dürer managed to capture such a detailed image of a wild and constantly moving animal.
The 5-euro silver coin has a diameter of 28.5 mm, contains 8 grams of fine silver and has a fineness of 800. The silver coin is available in special uncirculated quality and will have a maximum mintage of 50,000. Each of these coins is vacuum-sealed in a colorful and informative blister pack.
Collectors in the United States and Canada may purchase the “Wild Hare” coin by contacting the Austrian Mint www.austrian-mint.at
or from these fine dealers:
- APMEX – Toll-free at 1-800-375-9006 or online at www.APMEX.com
- Downies – Toll-free at 1 877 897 7696 or online at www.Downies.com
- Modern Coin Mart – Toll-free at 1 800 362 9004 or online at www.Moderncoinmart.com
