Austria: Innovative Floral Design Features on Latest Silver Proof Coins Highlighting the Peony.

This widely admired flower is captured forever on the sixth coin in The Language of Flowers series. According to the language of flowers, the peony symbolises good fortune, happiness and in terms of traits is associated with intelligence, prosperity, boldness and honour. The flower also has other symbolic associations, including compassion, love, beauty and female fertility. Lasting just seven to ten days, peonies bloom only briefly and the flowers that emerge from the spherical bud of the peony are a thing of wonder. This is why gardeners especially appreciate the ephemeral beauty of the flower while they can.

In England, the peony is sometimes referred to as the rose royale and have been painted by many European artists, including Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet and Édouard Manet.

As a particular element of design for this series, none of the principal flower images depicted is based on a drawing or illustration. The starting point of every coin design is a real flower grown in the garden of the Austrian Mint, which is then pressed using a special technique that captures the flower in its natural state.

Designed by Kathrin Kuntner and Rebecca Wilding, the obverse side features three imprints of real peonies in different stages of flower, behind them a band of stylised peonies. The proof silver version includes an element of colour which enhances the design of these delicate flowers. The reverse side depicts happiness and joy and shows a smiling young woman whose hair is adorned with laurel and pearls. To the right of her head is a curved cornucopia from which peony calyxes and coins are pouring. To the left of the woman is the year of issue 2024 placed along the upper left rim. The denomination is shown as 10 EURO just above the primary design and the text REPUBLIK OSTERREICH is placed below. 

Available from the 17^th April, each proof coin is encapsulated and presented in a heavy gauge card case complete with a numbered certificate of authenticity and protective slipcase. The Special Uncirculated coins are presented in a blister pack folder with illustrations and informative text. The UNC copper coins are sold at commercial banks and the retail shop of the Austrian Mint for their face value. For additional information, please visit the Austrian Mint’s online webshop.