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20 Kreuzers - Franz I
| Issuer | Imperial Austrian Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 1811-1816 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Shape | Round |
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| Obverse description | Laureate and draped bust of Emperor Francis I facing left, set within an open wreath of laurel and olive branches tied at the base, with the mint mark 'A' (Vienna) appearing at the bottom of the wreath. The surrounding circular legend reads 'FRANCISCVS I · D · G · AVST · IMPERATOR', arranged along the inner border of the coin. The portrait is rendered in a classicizing neoclassical style, with strong facial features and a plain truncation. The field within the wreath is smooth, focusing visual attention on the imperial effigy. |
|---|---|
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| Obverse lettering | FRANCISCVS I · D · G AVST. IMPERATOR |
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| Additional information |
These kreuzers emerged directly from the catastrophic Finanz-Patent of 20 February 1811, by which the Austrian state effectively declared bankruptcy, devaluing all paper banknotes to one-fifth their face value. The coinage reform that followed attempted to rebuild public trust in hard currency after decades of war financing had gutted imperial reserves. Franz I's government was threading a needle between fiscal collapse and public revolt.
The .583 fineness reflects a deliberate compromise — fine enough to circulate with credibility, debased enough to stretch a depleted silver supply across a large empire still absorbing the costs of the Napoleonic campaigns.