Silver Niobium Coin
Fifty Years of Television

Without doubt one of the most influential of all inventions, television has dominated people’s lives for more than half a century. The Austrian Mint’s gifted engravers wonderfully evoke the birth of the ‘box’ in this 2005 edition of the 25 euro Silver Niobium series.

Considered something of a classic of retro design in Austria today, the original 1950s Austrian TV test card, used for calibration and focusing at the beginning and end of the broadcasting day, features on the purple niobium core of the coin’s obverse. The country of origin and face value are shown in its outer silver ring. Milestones in the history of television, ranging from an analogue fifties TV set to contemporary digital satellite dishes, are depicted in the silver ring on the coin’s reverse, as is the inscription “50 years of television” in German. An old fashioned TV antenna superimposed over the European section of the globe is depicted in the niobium core.

With a maximum mintage of 65,000 pieces in Special Uncirculated quality only, the coin contains 9 grammes of 900 Fine silver in its outer ring and 6.5 grammes of 998 pure niobium. Each coin is encapsulated, boxed and comes complete with a numbered certificate guaranteeing its authenticity.