1/4 oz Vienna Philharmonic Gold Coin | 2025

1/4 oz Vienna Philharmonic — Austria in 999.9 gold

The Vienna Philharmonic is struck by Munze Osterreich, the Austrian Mint, at 999.9 fineness. Both faces were designed in 1989 by Thomas Pesendorfer, the mint's chief engraver, and the design has not changed since.

This is the 2025 issue.

Published specifications

Which side is which

The obverse carries the great pipe organ of the Golden Hall in the Vienna Musikverein, together with the weight, fineness, year and face value. The reverse shows the instruments of the orchestra — a Vienna horn, bassoon, harp and four violins arranged around a cello — under the words WIENER PHILHARMONIKER.

Dealers and catalogues sometimes describe these the other way round. The organ is the obverse.

The only bullion coin denominated in euro

The Philharmonic began in 1989 with a face value in Austrian schillings and switched to euro in 2002. It remains the only bullion coin whose face value is expressed in euro — 25 euro for this size. As with every bullion coin, the face value is nominal: what the coin is worth is the gold in it.

VAT and UK capital gains tax

HMRC treats a coin minted after 1800 as bullion gold if it is at least 900 thousandths fine, is or has been legal tender in its country of origin, and normally sells at no more than 180 per cent of the open market value of its gold (VAT Notice 701/21A). At 999.9 fine and Austrian legal tender, this coin falls inside the exemption for gold bullion.

Capital gains tax works differently: the UK exemption follows sterling legal tender, so it covers Sovereigns and Britannias but not an Austrian coin. This is the published rule, not tax advice — your own position depends on your circumstances.

Questions buyers ask

Has the design ever changed? No. Pesendorfer's 1989 designs are still in use.

What is the coin actually worth? The gold in it, plus a dealer premium. The 25 euro face value is nominal.

Is it VAT free in the UK? It meets HMRC's tests for a gold bullion coin. It is not exempt from capital gains tax.

Other sizes are on the Vienna Philharmonic gold coins page. Live quotes on the precious metals prices page.