This beautiful coin honoring the architecture and artwork of the Vienna Secession is minted by the Austrian Mint.

The obverse of the coin features a two-thirds view of the Secession Building as seen from the street. Wrapping around the top rim, the inscription REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH, each letter separated by a dot. In the exergue, the date 2004 and denomination 100 EURO, each letter also separated by dots. On the structure itself, two inscriptions are legible: to the left of the Gorgon-guarded entrance way, on the left pylon are the words VER SACRUM (“Sacred Spring”), and above the door DER ZEIT IHRE KUNST DER KUNST IHRE FREIHEIT (“To every age its art. To art its freedom.”)

The reverse of the coin features an adaptation of Gustav Klimt’s masterpiece Beethoven Fries (1902), commissioned for display at the 14th Vienna Secessionist Exhibition. In the midst of Klimt’s intricate galaxy of minute geometric forms are three figures: a wreath-laden woman (“Ambition”); a female figure, hands clasped and head bowed (“Sympathy”); and a stern-faced knight dressed in armor (“Strength”).

This coin is minted in .986 purity and contains 16 grams of pure gold. The weight of the coin is 16.23 grams. 

Limited to a maximum mintage of 30,000, this care rarely surfaces for sale and it would be an excllent addition to your collection.