1915 Austro-Hungary Gold 4 Ducats

Ducats were first issued by the Kingdom of Austria in the first years of the 17th century, and possibly earlier. The last regular issue of the 4 ducat denomination for circulation was in 1914 during the last years of the reign of Franz Joseph I, Emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, just prior to the start of World War I. All of the gold 4 ducats dated 1915 are re-strikes, of which there were 496,501 struck between 1920 and 1936. Four ducat coins dated 1915 are still being produced by the Austrian Mint as official re-strikes, as is Austrian tradition for posthumous commemorative coins. The likeness of the old Emperor, Franz Joseph I, still adorns these coins. Austrian 4 Ducats are produced in high purity .986 fine gold, (23.75 carats), making them among the highest purity gold coins ever issued for circulation. These gold coins have inherited their design and appearance from the medieval gold coins of Europe, as they are very thin compared with modern coins, at just 0.7 mm thick.