Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is without question one of the most highly regarded musical geniuses in history. A classic boy genius, Mozart produced a body of musical work in his short life like no other. His music is simply outstanding, quite timeless, and has been admired continually since his death from a fever at age 35 on 5 December 1791. Born in Salzburg, he composed more than 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, operatic, and choral music.

The Austrian Mint are celebrating the composers work with a trilogy of proof silver coins released one per year from 2015 to 2017, of which this is the last. The first coin was called Wunderkind, and featured his early life. The second coin looked at the middle period of Mozarts life and was titled Genius. This one examines the aftermath of his death and is appropriately titled Legend. The designs are again by a pair of the mints most prolific and proficient artists, Thomas Pesendorfer and Mag. Helmut Andexlinger. This duo also did the first coin, Pesendorfer being replaced by Herbert Wahner on the second.

Like the two previous coins, this has a portrait of Mozart from the period featured on the obverse face. The reverse depicts a scene from one of his famous operas, in this case The Magic Flute, performed for the first time just weeks before his early death. Both sides are top quality designs, and the whole series is a fine tribute to the legendary composer. Each coin carries an inscribed signature fragment, one word of his name on each coin, which when placed in the collectors box will spell out his name in full.

Struck in 90% pure silver (0.900), weighing 20g, and with a mintage of 50,000, the coin comes in the usual little Austrian Mint red box. For €45.60 you can purchase a themed collectors box to hold the three coins and their certificates. Available to order now from both the mints estore, and dealers worldwide, the coin will start shipping on 07 September. Sadly the price has risen again, unsurprising given the recent surge in the spot price. The first coin debuted at €49.50, but rose to €54.00 to match the second. The 2017 coin is up a further 10% at €59.60.

As in the case of some of the latter-day rock stars who died tragically young, the Mozart legend is not only a product of his undoubted creative genius, but also of his larger-than-life personality. Mozart’s phenomenal work ethic, extravagant lifestyle and flamboyant nature have been dramatized on numerous occasions; most famously in the play Amadeus by Peter Shaffer, which was later made into a hugely successful movie by Miloš Forman, winning eight Oscars.Mozart died at the tender age of 35 in December 1791, just weeks after the premiere of his best-loved opera The Magic Flute, which was a popular triumph.

The coin’s reverse shows a scene from the opera, while a profile portrait of a pensive Mozart graces the obverse. Painted by his brother-in-law Joseph Lange, the portrait gives the impression that Mozart is eavesdropping on his inner music. The word ‘Mozart’ lies beneath the portrait so that, when placed alongside the other two coins in the series, the three coins together spell the composer’s full name.