10 Euro Silver Aufjuchazn - Loden Coin P
Loden and Austrian traditional costume are inseparable.Anyone wearing a Janker jacket or loden hat today feels connected to tradition, nature and their home region, but loden was originally worn as work clothing. The rural population, especially livestock herders and hunters, appreciated the robust fabric, which is made from sheep’s wool and can withstand wind and rain, provide warmth and is also breathable. In the 19th century, loden underwent a remarkable transformation when the aristocracy and bourgeoisie discovered the simple wool fabric while summering in the Alps. So enthusiastic were they that what had previously been something practical for everyday use was upgraded to festive traditional attire. The work jacket was henceforth worn on Sundays and special occasions. Traditional handicraft is still used in the production of loden today, including at the world’s oldest loden manufactory, located in Ramsau am Dachstein, where loden has been fulled for almost 600 years. Although obviously much more recently, the international fashion world also discovered the fabric a while ago. Loden has since been presented in modern interpretations on the world’s major catwalks, impressively demonstrating that it is far more than just traditional – it embodies timelessness and style. On the coin’s reverse, a woman in colour-printed traditional costume stands, one hand on her hip and a farming tool in the other. Her dirndl, complete with a laced bodice, is complemented by a loden shawl draped over her shoulders. Behind her is an ornamental band in the style of bodice embroidery, in which a sheep is embedded on the right – symbolising the virgin wool from which loden is made. The coin’s obverse features an enlarged detail of a traditional laced bodice with fine floral embroidery. The face value and the year of issue are on the bottom left, while the inscription REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH runs around the left edge of the coin.