Austria 2002 250 years of the Schönbrunn Zoo
250 years of the Schönbrunn Zoo
Once the imperial stomping grounds of Holy
Roman Emperor Francis I (1708-1765), the Schönbrunn Zoo, also known as the
Vienna Zoo, is the oldest zoo in the world and is home to more than 600 species
of animals, including four Giant Pandas. The Austrian Mint issued a 5 euro
silver coin to commemorate the zoo’s 250th anniversary.
Obverse: The numeral “5” is encircled by the
heraldic shields of Austria’s nine federal states (Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower
Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, and Vienna). The
inscription REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH wraps around the rim. EURO is centered between
two dots at the bottom. This design remains constant for all Austrian 5 euro
silver coins struck to date. Reverse: The historic imperial breakfast
pavilion, a Schönbrunn Zoo landmark, is centered in the background. In the
foreground is an assortment of animals, which from left to right are a penguin,
a seal, a bear, a lion, a beaver, an ape, an owl, an elephant, and a giraffe.
The designer’s name H. WÄHNER appears to the bottom left of the pavilion. The
dual date 1752-2002 is located beneath the stairs at the bottom right. Wrapping
around the top of the coin is the inscription 250 JAHRE TIERGARTEN SCHÖNBRUNN
(250th Anniversary of Schönbrunn Zoo).
Denomination - 5 euro
Weight - 8.0 g.
Quality - BU (Brilliant Uncirculated) in a coincard
Diameter. - 29.00 mm.
Composition - Silver 800
Mintage - 100'000 pcs.
Country of origin - Austria
Year of release - 2002
