Description
Hungary spent much of the 19th century and the first portion of the 20th century enveloped in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The korona would eventually emerge as the fiat currency of an independent Hungary in the aftermath of World War I as the empire was broken apart into individual nations.
These 1908 Hungary 100 Korona Gold Coins are a restrike issue from the Austrian Mint honoring Hungary. The coins have designs never found on the most commonly issued 100 Coronas of Austria. Though Franz Joseph I appeared on both coins, the design here is entirely unique to the Hungarian coinage.
Each of the coins in this listing is in AU, or about uncirculated condition. Similar to BU, the coins have slight signs of wear and tear and correspond roughly to the Sheldon scales numeric grade range of 50 to 58.
On the obverse of the 1908 Hungary 100 Korona Gold Coin is the image of Franz Joseph I who ruled as Emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire from 1848 until 1916. The Hungarian Korona design features a left-profile image of Franz Joseph I as a full-length standing figure holding a scepter in his right hand and a crowned sphere in his outstretched left hand. The date mark of 1908 is featured on this side of the coin as well.
The reverse of the Hungary 100 Korona Gold Coin includes the image of the Hungarian coat of arms. The Hungarian coat of arms includes a crowned shield that is supported on either side by angels. Engravings on both sides of the coin are in Hungarian, rather than Austrias native German tongue.
All 1908 Hungarian 100 Korona Gold Coins were struck by the Austrian Mint. The Austrian Mint is one of Europes oldest operating mint facilities and was opened in 1194 during the reign of Duke Leopold V.
