2017 Maria Theresa: Courage & Determination - NGC PF70 FR

First Coin in the Empress Maria Theresa Series

Celebrating the 300th anniversary of the birth of Empress Maria Theresa in 1717, this four-coin series is based on the four cardinal virtues, which drove the only ever female ruler of the Habsburg Empire. Courage, Justice, Clemency and Prudence are combined with four different portraits of the Empress: as a young woman; as a wife alongside her husband, Francis Stephen; as a widow; and with her successor, Joseph. Each 20 euro Proof quality coin, featuring an amalgam of original motifs taken from medals issued during Maria Theresa’s 40-year reign (1740-1780), is minted in extra bold relief that gives it a special antique look.

Courage and Determination: Unprepared for the role of Empress, Maria Theresa (1717 to 1780) unexpectedly came to power at the age of 23 in 1740. Yet through her courage and determination – the name of the first coin in the series – right from the outset, Empress Maria Theresa stood her ground against the enemies of her Empire.

The coin’s reverse shows a combination of images from other historical medals, the dominant one being an armed Minerva symbolizing Maria Theresa’s fortitude – a virtue that meant she was not daunted by the magnitude of her role as Empress of a vast empire. The year date of 2017 is inscribed in Roman numerals at the bottom of the reverse.

The coin’s obverse shows a obverse features a portrait of the Empress from a medal by engraver Matthäus Donner (1704–1756), along with the 20 Euro denomination and the country of issue “Republik Osterreich.”

Each coin comes with its branded and stylized coin packaging. The Certificate of Authenticity sits within the coin case and there is a worldwide limited mintage of only 30,000 coins.

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