!!!Münze Österreich AG

Muenze Oesterreich AG (Mint of Austria): stock corporation whose main 
task is the production of "small change" (token coins) for money 
transactions; Austrian Schilling coins and Groschen coins as well as 
Euro coins and Cent coins, which will replace the Shilling and 
Groschen from January 1, 2002. The Mint of Austria also mints 
collectors and commemorative coins such as recoinages of crowns, 
guldens and ducats.

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The Muenze Oesterreich AG originated at the time of the Babenbergs. 
The ransom paid for King  Richard I (Lionheart) was supposedly a 
decisive stimulus for establishing a mint (1193/94) in Vienna. In the 
18%%sup th/%  century the Vienna Mint was strongly supported by 
Emperor Karl VI, who purchased new machines and laid the 
foundation for its present high artistic standard by establishing an 
engraving academy. In 1839 the mint was transferred to new premises at 
Heumarkt street and production was modernized. - In 1918 the Federal 
Ministry of Finance was put in charge of the Vienna Hauptmuenzamt 
(Main Mint), the only mint in Austria. On January 1,1989 the main mint 
was transformed into the Muenze Oesterreich AG as part of the Austrian 
 National Bank, thus creating one single central body responsible for 
all Austrian notes and coins in circulation. The first Austrian gold 
bullion coin "Wiener Philharmoniker" ("Vienna Philharmonic") has also 
been in great international demand (mainly in Japan and the USA), 
becoming one of the best-selling bullion coins, with more than 
6 million pieces sold worldwide (1989-1998).


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