The next coin to be released by the Austrian Mint will mark the 450th anniversary of the Spanish Riding School of Vienna, Austria.
The Spanish Riding School is a traditional riding school for Lipizzan horses, which perform in the Winter Riding School (Winterreitschule) in the Hofburg Palace. It is the world’s oldest and most famous equestrian academy and considered intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO since 2010.
The obverse design of the coin shows a pair of Lipizzaner stallions and their riders performing a Pas de deux, a traditional highlight of their performance, which requires very high levels of concentration and coordination. The inscriptions include “20 EURO”, “REPUBLIK OSTERREICH”, and “2015”.
The reverse of the coin shows a stallion and rider executing a Levade, one of the school’s equestrian inventions, in which the stallion puts its entire weight on its hind legs and raises its front legs no more than 45 degrees. The inscription reads “450 JAHRE SPANISCHE HOFREITSCULE WIEN”. Both sides of the coin feature the baroque Winter Riding School in the background.
Each coin is struck in 90% silver to proof quality with a weight of 20 grams and diameter of 34 mm. The mintage is indicated at 50,000 pieces. The official date of issue will be February 18, 2015.
Ernesto says
I like the design of the coin!! Will definitely try to pick one up!!