1/4 Oz Philharmonic - Gold - Various Years

The 1/4 ounce Philharmonic is the one-quarter ounce investment gold coin from the Austrian Mint. This gold coin contains 7.78 g of 999.9 thousandths pure gold, and its price tracks the gold spot price, regardless of its year of issue.

Its small size allows you to enter the physical gold market with a limited budget, to buy gradually, and then to resell in small quantities as needed. It contains slightly more gold than a British Sovereign (7.32 g).

Technical specifications of the 1/4 oz Philharmonic

• Purity: 999.9 thousandths (24 karats)
• Fine gold: 7.78 g (1/4 troy ounce)
• Diameter: 22 mm
• Edge: reeded
• Face value: 500 schillings until 2001, then 25 euros from 2002 onwards
• Country of issue: Austria (Münze Österreich, Vienna)
• Condition: circulated, mixed years

History of the Vienna Philharmonic

The Austrian Mint (Münze Österreich), a subsidiary of the Central Bank of Austria, launched the gold Philharmonic in October 1989. The 1/4 ounce was one of the first two formats issued, along with the full ounce; the 1/10 ounce followed in 1991, the 1/2 ounce in 1994, and the 1/25 ounce in 2014.

Its designs, created by engraver Thomas Pesendorfer, pay tribute to the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and have remained unchanged since the beginning. Only the face value has evolved: expressed in Austrian schillings until 2001, it has been in euros since the arrival of the single currency in 2002.

How to identify a gold Philharmonic?

The obverse depicts the great organ of the Golden Hall in the Musikverein, the orchestra's concert hall in Vienna, with the inscriptions "REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH", "1/4 UNZE GOLD 999.9", the year, and the face value. The reverse shows an ensemble of the orchestra's instruments: a cello surrounded by violins, a Viennese horn, a bassoon, and a harp, with the inscription "WIENER PHILHARMONIKER".

Verification involves checking the weight (7.78 g), the diameter (22 mm), and the sharpness of the engraving and the reeded edge. As pure gold is soft, slight handling marks are common and do not affect its investment value. Our experts perform these checks on every coin before it is offered for sale.

Why invest in the 1/4 oz Philharmonic?

• A small format: 7.78 g of fine gold, to invest gradually with a limited budget.
• 999.9 pure gold: no alloy, with the same purity as the one-ounce coin.
• Fractional resale: you can sell one or more coins without having to sell all of your gold.
• A sovereign coin: minted by the Austrian Mint, it is recognized by European dealers.

A "bankable" verified Philharmonic, ready for resale

The 1/4 oz Philharmonic is sold for the gold it contains. Its price follows the gold spot price, to which an investment premium is added. As investment gold, it is exempt from VAT in Belgium.

• Verified "bankable": each coin is checked by our experts (authenticity, weight, purity). It has no defects that would prevent its resale as investment gold: no holes, solder, traces of mounting, or excessive shock or wear.
• Ready for resale: when you decide to sell, it is accepted for buyback as investment gold, based on its fine gold weight. We guarantee its buyback at any time.

Year and condition of your 1/4 oz Philharmonic

This product is sold as "mixed years": the year of issue and the currency unit of the face value (schillings or euros) vary from one coin to another and cannot be chosen. These are circulated coins that have already had one or more owners: slight signs of wear or patina are normal and have no effect on their investment value, which is calculated based on their fine gold weight. Photo for illustrative purposes only.

How to store your gold Philharmonics?

To ensure a gold coin retains its full resale value, a few simple precautions are sufficient:

• handle it by the edge, ideally with cotton gloves;
• never clean it: cleaning agents and friction scratch the gold and can complicate its resale;
• store it in an individual capsule or case, away from moisture and impact;
• keep your purchase invoice, as it is useful at the time of resale.

Frequently asked questions about the 1/4 oz Philharmonic

How much gold does the 1/4 oz Philharmonic contain?

It contains one-quarter of a troy ounce of fine gold, i.e., 7.78 g, at 999.9 thousandths. It is this weight of gold that serves as the basis for its purchase and resale price.

What is the difference compared to the 1 oz Philharmonic?

The design and purity are the same; only the size changes. Four 1/4 ounce coins contain as much gold as one ounce, but allow you to resell in smaller quantities.

Can I choose the year of the Philharmonic?

No. This product is sold as mixed years: you will receive a 1/4 oz Philharmonic selected from our stock, which always contains one-quarter ounce of fine gold.

Is the 1/4 oz Philharmonic subject to VAT?

No. In Belgium, as in the entire European Union, the 1/4 oz Philharmonic is considered investment gold and is exempt from VAT.