Austria’s 20 Euro “Salt Mining – The White Gold of Hallstatt” (KM#3377) was named the Most Historically Significant Coin for the Coin of the Year (COTY) awards for 2024-dated coins. It is the first of three coins in the Munze Osterreich’s The White Gold of Hallstatt series.
The coin depicts the Hallstatt salt mine, which is the oldest in the world. The Salzkammergut region of central Austria was previously home to a flourishing mining community that supplied salt to half of central Europe.
The winning silver coin has a face value of 20 EURO. It was designed by Kathrin Kuntner and Rebecca Wilding.
The obverse depicts a pair of bronze pickaxes found in the prehistoric salt mines of Hallstatt.
In the style of a collage, the reverse shows a scene in which salt is mined and transported. The figures are inspired by artistic depictions found on bronze vessels from the Iron Age.
The Salt Mining coin measures 34 mm in diameter and weighs 22.42 grams. Mintage is limited to 30,000.