Introducing the Austria 10 Corona Franz Joseph Laurel Head, never before offered in our nearly 50 year company history.   This rarely seen coin had a limited total mintage of 6.8 million coins across just four years of production (1895, 1896, 1905 and 1906). Minted to .098 ounces of gold each, these Austria 10 Corona Franz Joseph Laurel Head coins present just a bit larger than a US dime – ideal for investors looking to augment the divisible negotiability of their gold holdings.  To our delight, this grouping consists of a very visually pleasing unsorted mixture of Extra Fine, Almost Uncirculated, and Uncirculated coins, with the vast majority climbing to AU and better – a notable feat for coinage so small.  And while a bit of the proof-like finish consistent with Austrian and Hungarian coinage of the era has since faded, tilted in the light, these coins still flash their original beautiful mirror-like appearance, necessitating the added conditional designation of ‘semi proof-like’ to this group.

*Note:  Austria 10 Corona Franz Joseph Laurel Head coins were re-struck in large volumes bearing the date 1912.  Be sure not to confuse any re-strike offers with the original strike coinage offered here.

Historical note:  Franz Joseph became emperor of Austria, which controlled Hungary along with much of central Europe, in 1848 at the age of 18.  It was during his reign that the old Hungarian Constitution was restored, and Franz Joseph was accordingly also crowned King of Hungary in 1867, creating the dual Monarchy of Austria-Hungary.  The two realms were governed separately with two parliaments and two administrations, but a common monarch, military and foreign office.  The two-headed eagle on the reverse of the 10 Corona (“Crown”) is emblematic of the joining of the two regions into the single empire. Joseph is adorned with a laurel wreath on the obverse.