20 ATS #23

Front

Moritz Michael Daffinger (1790–1849), Austrian miniature painter and watercolorist renowned for his portrait miniatures and flower paintings. He was one of the most celebrated miniaturists of the Biedermeier period and is considered a master of Austrian miniature art. The note honors his contribution to Austrian cultural heritage and the visual arts, featuring an ornamental guilloche rosette with rainbow printing as a prominent security element.

Back

The Albertina Museum in Vienna, one of the world's largest and most important collections of prints, drawings, and graphic art. Housed in the former Habsburg palace on Albertinaplatz, the museum was founded by Duke Albert of Saxe-Teschen in the late 18th century and contains over one million works including masterpieces by Dürer, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Klimt. The inscription 'ALBERTINA' appears below the building.

History

This note is part of the 1966–1997 series of Austrian schilling banknotes issued by the Oesterreichische Nationalbank. The series featured prominent Austrian cultural and scientific figures. The 20-schilling denomination with Moritz Daffinger was introduced in 1967 and continued in circulation until Austria adopted the euro on January 1, 2002. Austrian schilling notes could be exchanged for euros until February 28, 2002, after which they were demonetized. This particular printing is dated October 1, 1986 ('WIEN AM 1. OKTOBER 1986'). The series is notable for its fine engraving work and use of rainbow printing in the guilloche patterns.