The Vienna Philharmonic coin first appeared in the marketplace on 10 October 1989. It was that year the Austrian law changed to permit the issue of gold coins for investment purposes. So naturally, the idea came about to release a coin that symbolized Austria. The Vienna Philharmonic is one of the world’s most famous orchestras and is known to have produced some of the world’s finest composers, thus cementing itself as a national treasure. It was for this reason the orchestra was chosen and the Vienna Philharmonic gold coin was minted. The reverse of the coin depicts a collection of musical instruments from the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra – a Vienna horn, a bassoon, a cello, a viola, and a violin. The obverse features the great organ of the Musikverein concert hall in Vienna.