Austria’s 1988 annual set holds nine pieces: seven coins, including the 2 and 5 groschen that would soon disappear from regular striking, and two medals.

Four different metals and alloys meet in one set. The 2 and 10 groschen are aluminium with the heraldic eagle and the 5 groschen is zinc; the 50 groschen with a gentian and the schilling with three edelweiss are aluminium bronze, while the 5 schilling with a rider on a Lipizzaner and the 10 schilling with a woman’s portrait are cupronickel.

The small denominations were nearing their end: in the 1990s the 2 groschen was struck mainly for collector sets, and after 1994 neither the 2 nor the 5 groschen was made at all. The 1988 set therefore shows the schilling system still complete, from two groschen to ten schilling.

All seven coins remained legal tender until 28 February 2002, when Austria completed its switch to the euro. In a run of Austrian sets this year stands out precisely for the full range of denominations.

UNC condition: the coins never circulated, there is no wear and the mint lustre is preserved. The souvenir packaging keeps coins and medals together as one set.

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