2005 Germany €10 Silver Coin "Von Suttner"

• Issue date:
• Mint: Stuttgart (F)
• Denomination: €10
• Quality: Proof/Uncirculated
• Limits: 300,000/1.8 million
• Alloy: 92.5% Sterling Silver
• Diameter: 32.50 mm
• Weight: 18 grams
• Design: Bodo Broschat
• Box/Capsule: No/Yes
• Certificate: No


• Image shows proof quality


• Edge lettering: EIPHNH PAX FRIEDEN (The word PEACE in Greek, Latin and German)

This issue commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Baroness Bertha von Suttner - the first woman to win the world's most prestigious award.

Bertha Sophie Felicitas Kinsky was born in Prague (then part of the Austrian empire) on June 9, 1843. Although she was born into nobility as Countess of Chinic and Tettau, her family was impoverished and she had to work for a living. From 1873 she was the governess to the wealthy von Suttner family, where she met and became engaged to Baron Arthur Gundaccar von Suttner. Her family opposed the match, and she answered an advertisement from Alfred Nobel in 1876 to become his secretary-housekeeper at his Paris residence. She only remained with Nobel for a week before returning to Vienna and secretly marrying von Suttner.

Bertha von Suttner became a leading figure in the peace movement with the publication of her novel "Die Waffen Nieder!" (Lay Down Your Arms!) in 1889 and founded an Austrian pacifist organization in 1891. She gained international repute as editor of the international pacifist journal Die Waffen nieder! - named for her book - from 1892 to 1899. She was also the honorary president of the Permanent International Peace Bureau (Bureau International Permanent de la Paix).

Though her personal contact with Alfred Nobel had been brief, she corresponded with him until his death in 1896, and it is believed that she was a major influence in his decision to include a peace prize among those prizes provided in his will.

Bertha von Suttner died in Vienna on June 21, 1914 and she is depicted on the Austrian circulating 2 euro coins.

The reverse shows a young Bertha von Suttner against a background of a stylized book cover with the title of her seminal work "Die Waffen nieder!" (Lay Down Your Arms!). The legend says "100 Jahre Friedensnobelpreis Bertha von Suttner" (100 Years Nobel Peace Prize Bertha von Suttner). The obverse show the stylized German eagle against the background of a book cover that contains the twelve stars of the European Monetary Union.