From the CoinWeek IQ Encyclopedia:
10 Euro Silver Coin – Schloss Hof | Schloß Hof (2003)
Castles of Austria Series (2002-2004)
The Castles of Austria Series ran from 2002 to 2004 and featured a total of six coins. Each coin in the series, released two a year, depicts a famous Austrian castle and is struck in 0.925 fine silver. The coins are legal tender in Austria at a face value of 10 euros and come in three finishes: Uncirculated, Special Uncirculated, and Proof. The Special Uncirculated version was issued in a limited edition bi-fold card, which houses the coin in a blister pack. Proofs were issued in numbered editions, contained in a plastic capsule and housed in a burgundy box. The Schloss Hof (2003) 10 euro silver coin was the second issue of the series.
Historical Background:
Schloss Hof and its palatial grounds were once the country home and hunting grounds of Prince Eugene of Savoy (1663-1736). The prince purchased the property and entrusted its renovation to noted architect Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt.
Over the course of three years, Hildebrandt and his team of artists, artisans, and craftsmen transformed the already impressive grounds into one of central Europe’s most magnificent properties.
In fact, the palace was so opulently detailed that Empress Maria Theresa acquired it in 1755 as a gift for her husband, Emperor Francis Stephen. Today, thousands of visitors pay tribute to this baroque masterpiece, which has been painstakingly restored to its original condition.
The 2003 Schloss Hof 10 Euro Silver Coin is the third of six designs in the Austrian Mint’s Castles of Austria commemorative coin program.
Coin Specifications:
Composition: 0.925 fine silver | Weight: 17.3 grams | Size: 32 mm
Design:
Obverse:
Designer: Andreas Zanaschka
Schloss Hof as seen from the grounds, centered in the midst of the property’s lavish baroque gardens. An ornate fountain and statuary are depicted in the foreground. In the exergue, the inscriptions SCHLOSSHOF, 10 EURO, and 2003. REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH arches around the top rim of the coin.
Reverse:
Designer: Andreas Zanaschka
A female and a male gardener at work. The female carries a basket of flowers, while the male waters the grounds. The palace is visible in the distance. Zanaschka’s floral designs echo the filigree work of Vienna Secessionist artist Gustav Klimt.
