50 Euro Cents (1st map)

The 50 Euro cent coin featuring the first map design was introduced in 2002 as part of the initial launch of the Euro currency in Austria. The design was selected through a national competition, with the motifs chosen to reflect significant aspects of Austrian history, nature, and architecture. This specific denomination highlights the Secession Building in Vienna, an iconic landmark of the Vienna Secession art movement, which represents the country's profound contribution to European modernism.

The reverse side of this issue displays the common European map design, which was crafted by Luc Luycx of the Royal Belgian Mint. Luycx intended for the design to symbolize the unity of the European Union, illustrating the continent as a whole before the 2007 expansion necessitated an updated map. At the time of its release, the coin was well-received by the public as a symbol of economic integration, serving as a tangible connection between the Austrian national identity and the broader European project.