50 shillings 1970
Market Prices
71 salesAbout This Note
This is an uncirculated example of the Austrian 50 Schilling note from 1970, featuring Ferdinand Raimund, the renowned 19th-century Austrian playwright and actor (1790-1836), on the obverse. The note displays pristine condition with no visible wear, creases, or damage, showcasing the intricate purple and multicolored engraved design work characteristic of Austrian currency from this era. The reverse depicts the Burgtheater in Vienna, one of Austria's most important cultural institutions, making this note notable for its celebration of Austrian cultural heritage.
Common. This note is part of the regular issue of Austrian 50 Schilling notes from 1970 and was produced in substantial quantities for circulation. eBay market data shows consistent, modest sales prices ranging from $1-$10 for most grades, with UNC examples averaging $5.50-$16 across multiple sales from 2009-2021. The abundance of sales data itself indicates widespread availability in the collector market. Only professionally graded examples (PMG 66+) command higher prices ($30-$69), but the base uncirculated note remains a common entry-level Austrian banknote.
Issued on January 2, 1970 by the Oesterreichische Nationalbank, this note was produced during Austria's post-war economic recovery and the height of the Schilling currency era (which lasted until Austria's adoption of the Euro in 2002). The selection of Ferdinand Raimund—a defining figure of Austrian Romantic literature and theater—reflects the nation's cultural pride during this period. The reverse's depiction of the Burgtheater Wien further emphasizes Austria's rich theatrical and artistic tradition, positioning the note as a cultural ambassador of Austrian identity.
The obverse features a right-facing portrait of Ferdinand Raimund (1790-1836) in formal 19th-century attire with characteristic curled hair, positioned on the right side of the note. The left side displays the Austrian national coat of arms—a double-headed eagle with shield in a circular frame—representing the federal authority issuing the currency. The entire field is filled with intricate guilloche patterns and ornamental engraving in light purple and lavender tones with brown/burgundy and cream accents, creating a sophisticated security design. The reverse showcases the Burgtheater Wien, Vienna's most prestigious theater and one of the German-speaking world's finest dramatic institutions, depicted in fine engraving with classical architectural details including multiple stories, columns, and ornate facade elements. Ornamental spiral and sunburst patterns in purple, orange, and yellow flank the central architectural image, with the denomination appearing in all four corners.
Front: 'FÜNFZIG SCHILLING' (Fifty Schilling), 'ÖSTERREICHISCHEN NATIONALBANK' (Austrian National Bank), 'WIEN AM 2.JÄNNER 1970' (Vienna, January 2, 1970), 'PRÄSIDENT' (President), 'GENERALDIREKTOR' (General Director), 'FERDINAND RAIMUND' (Ferdinand Raimund), '1790-1836' (birth and death years). Back: 'FÜNFZIG SCHILLING' (Fifty Schilling), 'BURGTHEATER WIEN' (Burgtheater Vienna), serial number 'A1198255B'.
Intaglio (engraved) printing on currency paper, utilizing multiple colors (purple, orange, yellow, brown) applied through sophisticated security-focused guilloche and fine-line engraving techniques. The intricate background patterns, complex ornamental designs, and precise architectural rendering are characteristic of high-security intaglio production by the Austrian state printing authority.
This note represents Pick-143a, the first issue of the 1970 50 Schilling design. The catalog reference notes the existence of Pick-144, which is the same design but with the overprint '2. Auflage' (2nd issue/2nd Edition), indicating a later reprint. The visual analysis shows a clean, unoverprinted example consistent with the first printing. The observed serial number format 'A1198255B' is typical for this issue. No signature or date variants are evident from the specifications provided.
