Hauptpunzierungs- und Probieramt, HPPA#

Hauptpunzierungs- und Probieramt (HPPA) (Central Hallmarking and Assay Office), Vienna, 2nd authority and central office of the hallmarking offices of Vienna, Linz, Graz and Innsbruck, subordinate to the Federal Ministry of Finance. It is concerned with chemical and technological testing, particularly of raw materials and products from the mining and metallurgical industries, the inorganic chemistry industry and precious metal business; control of gold and silver coinage (e.g. by the Muenze Oesterreich AG) subject to the law on hallmarks; R & D. 1858-1922 the HPPA functioned as the general assaying authority (in the minting office), 1922-42 as micro-laboratory, in 1942 it was given its current name. In 1947 a laboratory was established at the central minting office (now Muenze Oesterreich AG).