- Title: Europe's most expensive Christmas tree goes on display in Munich
- Date: 3rd December 2024
- Summary: MUNICH, GERMANY (DECEMBER 3, 2024) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF DECORATIVE CHRISTMAS TREES ON TABLE / CHRISTMAS TREE MADE OF 2,024 GOLD VIENNA PHILHARMONIC COINS IN BACKGROUND CANDLES ON TABLE / CHRISTMAS TREE MADE OF GOLD COINS IN BACKGROUND VARIOUS OF VIENNA PHILHARMONIC COINS ON CHRISTMAS TREE FRAME VARIOUS OF SPOKESPERSON OF "PRO AURUM", BENJAMIN SUMMA, WALKNG TOWARDS CHRISTMAS TREE AND PUTTING GOLD COIN ON ITS FRAME (SOUNDBITE) (German) "PRO AURUM" SPOKESPERSON, BENJAMIN SUMMA, SAYING: "This year, we simply wanted to display a very special Christmas tree here at Goldhaus. It consists of 2024 one-ounce Vienna Philharmonic gold coins. And in view of the high gold prices, it also has a very considerable value, namely over 5.2 million euros. And the Vienna Philharmonic coin is one of the most popular and also one of the best-selling gold investment coins here at Goldhaus." TIMELAPSE OF SUMMA PUTTING GOLD COINS ON CHRISTMAS TREE FRAME VARIOUS OF CHRISTMAS TREE MADE OF GOLD COINS / LARGE PROJECTION OF COIN ON WALL VARIOUS OF REVERSE SIDE OF GOLD COIN ON DISPLAY (SOUNDBITE) (German) "PRO AURUM" SPOKESPERSON, BENJAMIN SUMMA, SAYING: "Well, you can kind of buy a 1/2024 of the tree - these individual coins are available in our shop. The top, the star, is also formed by a 20-ounce gold Philharmonic coin - and you can also buy it in our shop. But you can't buy the tree as a whole." VARIOUS OF VIENNA PHILHARMONIC COINS ON CHRISTMAS TREE FRAME (SOUNDBITE) (German) "PRO AURUM" SPOKESPERSON, BENJAMIN SUMMA, SAYING: "So gold is also relatively expensive at the moment, as are many shares. We are currently experiencing a year-end rally on the stock markets. Bitcoin is also higher than ever after the U.S. election. But gold has also risen very sharply in recent years compared to the same period last year - in euro terms, gold is up 34 percent. But demand is still very strong. In contrast perhaps to Bitcoin and also to some shares, people are not buying gold to get a short-term return, but simply to have long-term asset protection." VARIOUS OF VIENNA PHILHARMONIC COINS ON CHRISTMAS TREE FRAME (SOUNDBITE) (German) "PRO AURUM" SPOKESPERSON, BENJAMIN SUMMA, SAYING: "Due to geopolitical tensions and wars around the world, many central banks are very much on the buying side at the moment. Physical demand for gold, especially from Asian central banks, is very, very high. In addition, major investors are also fuelling demand and buying gold in the form of gold ETFs. And that influences the price - this year in particular, these were the two factors that caused the gold price to rise." VARIOUS OF VIENNA PHILHARMONIC COINS ON CHRISTMAS TREE FRAME CHRISTMAS TREE MADE OF GOLD COINS
- Embargoed: 17th December 2024 12:59
- Keywords: Gold Munich christmas tree coin pro aurum
- Location: MUNICH, GERMANY
- City: MUNICH, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Europe
- Reuters ID: LVA001428903122024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Europe's most expensive Christmas tree went on display in Munich on Tuesday (December 3) - the almost three-metre gold tree made of 2,024 Vienna Philharmonic coins has is worth more than 5.2 million euros.
"This year, we simply wanted to display a very special Christmas tree here at Goldhaus," said Benjamin Summa, a spokesman of Pro Aurum, the precious metals dealer company that set up the tree in collaboration with the Austrian Mint.
The coins are placed by hand on a special Christmas tree frame - an acrylic pyramid with a 20-ounce gold Vienna Philharmonic coin playing the role of a tree 'star' topper.
The obverse of the coins features a pipe organ in the Vienna Musikverein's Golden Hall, while the reverse depicts a selection of classical music instruments.
Although the tree itself is not for sale, the individual coins are. "You can kind of buy a 1/2024 of the tree," said Summa, adding that the gold Vienna Philharmonic coins, which celebrate their 35th anniversary this year, were chosen for the tree because they are the most popular gold investment coins sold by the company.
Even though the price of gold has risen this year, demand for it remains strong, the spokesman said. "People are not buying gold to get a short-term return, but simply to have long-term asset protection," he added.
The tree will remain on display at Pro Aurum's Goldhaus until Thursday (December 5) - and everyone is welcome to come and admire it.
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