This issue is the start of a four-coin series celebrating the 300th anniversary of the birth of Empress Maria Theresa, the only female ruler of the Habsburg Empire and the most fascinating female figure in Austrian history.

The Empress Maria Theresa series is based on the four cardinal virtues, Courage, Justice, Clemency and Prudence, which drove the imposing Empress to steer the Habsburg Empire on a highly successful course for 40 years, while managing to give birth to 16 children. Featuring original motifs taken from medals issued during Maria Theresa’s reign (1740-1780), the series combines the four cardinal virtues with four different portraits that show the Empress as a young woman, a wife, a widow and a mother.

The obverse of Courage and Determination features a portrait of the young Maria Theresa from a medal by engraver Matthäus Donner (1704-1756), while the dominant image on the reverse is of an armed Minerva. Unexpectedly coming to power at the age of 23, right from the outset, Empress Maria Theresa stood her ground against the enemies of her empire.

Each coin comes in an attractive box with a numbered certificate of authenticity.