From 1925 until 1938, and again from 1945 to 1999, Austria’s official currency was the schilling. The currency, which was divided into 100 groschen, continued to circulate until the country switched to the euro in 2002.
In the year it was established, bronze coins in denominations of 1 and 2 groschen, a copper-nickel 10 groschen, a silver half schilling, and 1-schilling coins were introduced. The series expanded with the addition of a copper-nickel 5 groschen coin in 1931. In 1934, copper-nickel 50-groschen and 1-schilling coins, along with a silver 5-schilling coin, were introduced and remained in circulation until 1938, at the onset of Germany’s annexation of Austria.
Following the Second World War, the schilling was reintroduced by the Allied Military in 1945. Between 1947 and 1952, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 groschen coins made from leftover blanks from the wartime pfennig issues were introduced. Additionally, aluminum 1, 2, and 5 schilling coins were introduced during this period.
In 1959, a silver 10-schilling coin was introduced, followed by the addition of aluminum-bronze 50-groschen and 1-schilling coins in 1959, and a silver 5-schilling coin in 1960. In 1980, an aluminium–bronze 20-schilling was also introduced.
Most of the circulating notes before the currency was replaced with the euro feature the Austrian coat of arms on the obverse. Their reverse displays various elements such as the denomination, a gentian flower, Edelweiss flowers, and a woman.
