Moneta
Registered: August 2005 Location: Arizona USA Posts: 2,365
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This is the first coin of 1000 Schillings series, issued in 1976 and commemorating 1000 years of the Babenberg Dynasty whose line merged with the Hapsburgs. The rise of the Hapsburgs, beginning around 1246, carried the Babenberg line into the 20th century.
Babenberg was a noble dynasty of Austrian margraves and dukes. Originally from Bamberg in the Duchy of Franconia (present-day Bavaria), the Babenbergs ruled the Imperial Margraviate of Austria from its creation in 976 AD until its elevation to a duchy in 1156, and from then until the extinction of the line in 1246, whereafter they were succeeded by the House of Habsburg. [Wikipedia]
On the obverse, trailing from the broken chain of the Hammer and Sickle, is the word COVFAL cleverly inserted, this is the name of the engraver. G. Simon is the engraver of the galloping knight reverse.
Those interested in symbology, and national emblems will be interested in the evolution of the Eagle, both single and double headed, and the instruments carried in his talons. The Imperial Austrian Empire, traditionally carried a sword and orb. With the changes wrought by WWI, and by the early 1920's, these implements were replaced with a Hammer and Sickle (no chains). Obviously, the years between the World Wars saw Austria favoring a communist system. Adolf Hitler (& the NAZI 3rd Reich) being a Nationalist Socialist movement opposed to communism (they were Fascists) saw fit to incorporate Austria into the Reich before WWII. With the Nazi defeat Austria found itself on the eastern and communist side where we now see the Hammer and Sickle included with broken chains. Gradually Austria was able to ally itself with western economies while still maintaining a strong socialist government. A story expressed in the changing symbols on the coinage.
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