Austro-Hungarian Empire, Austria Franz Joseph I 2 Corona

History

2 Corona 1912-1913, KM# 2821, Austro-Hungarian Empire, Austria, Franz Joseph I

2 Corona 1912-1913, KM# 2821, Austro-Hungarian Empire, Austria, Franz Joseph I, Edge

Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com

Description

Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I (1830-1916) was Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, Croatia and Bohemia. He concluded the the The Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, which granted greater autonomy to Hungary, hence transforming the Austrian Empire into the Austro-Hungarian Empire under his dual monarchy. His domains were then ruled peacefully for the next 45 years, although Franz Joseph personally suffered the tragedies of the execution of his brother, Maximilian in 1867, the suicide of his son, Crown Prince Rudolf in 1889, and the assassination of his wife, Empress Elisabeth in 1898. On 28 June 1914, the assassination of the heir-presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne, his nephew Archduke Franz Ferdinand, at the hands of Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian nationalist, resulted in Austria-Hungary's declaration of war against the Kingdom of Serbia, which was Russia's ally. This activated a system of alliances which resulted in World War I.

Franz Joseph died on 21 November 1916, after ruling his domains for almost 68 years. He was the longest-reigning emperor of Austria.

Obverse	Person (king, queen, tsar etc.) Franz Joseph I Bust of Franz Joseph (right), below engraver's signature: ST-SCHWARTZ (Stefan Schwartz). Franciscvs Iosephvs I Dei Gratia Imperator Avstriae, Rex Bohemiae, Galiciae, Illyriae et cetera et Apostolicvs Rex Hvngariae - Franz Joseph by the grace of God, Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia, Galicia, Illyria, etc. and elected king of Hungary. FRANC·JOS·I·D·G·IMP·AVSTR·REX BOH·GAL·ILL·ETC·ET AP·REX HVNG·
Reverse	Coat of arms Austro-Hungarian Empire Crown, jewelry Imperial Crown of Austria Symbol, amulet, talisman Double-headed eagle The double-headed eagle with marshaled arms of Habsburg, Babenberg and Lorraine displayed on the Escutcheon, Order of the Golden Fleece and Imperial Crown, value divided by the tail feathers, date below. The coat of arms of Austria-Hungary was that country's symbol during its existence from the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867 to its dissolution in 1918. The double-headed eagle of the ruling House of Habsburg-Lorraine was used by the common Imperial and Royal institutions of the dual monarchy. Additionally, each of the two parts of the real union had its own coat of arms. The Imperial Crown of Austria was made in 1602 in Prague by Jan Vermeyen as the personal crown of Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II, and therefore is also known as the Crown of Emperor Rudolf II. The crown was used as a private crown of the Holy Roman Emperors and Kings of Hungary and Bohemia from the House of Habsburg. In 1804 it became the official crown of the newly constituted Austrian Empire. After 1867 it remained the imperial crown of the Cisleithanian part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1918. II CORONÆ MDCCCCXIII - 2 Corona 1913. II CORONÆ MDCCCCXIII 2 COR· 1913
Edge	Inscribed (lettered) 'With United Forces' is a personal motto of Franz Joseph I VIRIBVS VNITIS