Austria, 1914 20-Heller

[Prosit]

Austria had a coinage reform and went on the Gold standard in 1892 which is great for collectors like me as it provides a convenient starting place.  Those coins continued until 1918 and the creation of the first Republic following WWI which provides a good ending point.

The 1892 20-Heller is the key to the 20-Heller series (12 coins not counting proof only years) and I had no problem getting that one.  The next most difficult to collect is the 1914 and here is a picture of it.  It has a little damage but this is not a series I am picky about.  It is a series that for me, most any example will do.  I doubt I will ever attempt to replace it.

I need one more to finish the 20-Hellers and that is the 1909 which is the 3rd most difficult to find.

From 1892-1914 they are made of Nickel, 3.00g and 21mm.
From 1915 (which was a proof only year and didn't make my want list) to 1919 they are Steel, 3.33g and 21mm.  The Steel, if you won't settle for a little corrosion are a bit difficult to collect but doable with patience.

One thing to note is the lack of inscriptions.

Dale

[Figleaf]

Dale, I think you are profiting from not too many people collecting these coins by date, so you get 1892 easily, but  1909 eludes you. In other words, it's a real search, not a question of how fat your wallet is. That must be very satisfactory: if you complete the series, you completed it, not your favorite coin dealer.

Having said that, I wouldn't mind having the coin you show in my collection. The rim nick is insignificant and the overall appearance of the coin is nice and elegant. You are right to call attention to the absence of legends (which explains why newbies often find the series difficult to identify). I think it may be part of Austrian revolutionary thinking: all right, we got rid of the Habsburgs. Now what? Let's delete their names and titles. Ahhh. That looks better already. Putting the word Republik on the coin? Let's wait and see how this all plays out. Maybe we'll end up being communist, maybe we'll be a conservative state.

Peter

[Prosit]

The 1, 2, 10 and 20-Hellers have no inscriptions.  The 1, 2, and 5 Corona have Franz Joseph and his titles.

June 28, 1914 Archduke Ferdinand was assisinated in Sarajevo.  1914 was a pivotal year for Austria 

After WW1, the official name of Austria was the Federal State of Austria although the word Republic (Austria was a de facto republic but not officially named a rebublic) was used. 

Since this series started in 1892 with no inscriptions, I don't really know why there aren't any inscriptions but I find it very curious and it makes the design stand out graphically with no distractions.

Dale