Austria 1866-A 1/4 florin
This specimen was lot 1290 in Jean Elsen sale 165 (Brussels, June 2026), where it sold for €360 (about US$496 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"AUTRICHE, François Joseph Ier (1848-1916), AR 1/4 florin, 1866 A, Vienne. Rare. Fines griffes. Très Beau. (empire of Austria, Francis Joseph I, 1848-1916, silver quarter florin of 1866, Vienna mint. Rare, hairlines, Very Fine.)"
When Bismarck kicked Austria out of Germany after the war of 1866, German and Austrian coins began to diverge. The thaler was abandoned in 1872 for the florin, which in turn was superseded by the corona in 1892. This quarter florin was struck 1866 only at Vienna and Venice. The reverse states the emperor's title as "GAL·LOD·ILL·REX A·A· HVNG·BOH·LOMB·ET VEN·" whereas the succeeding issue (KM 2216) stated, "LOD · ILL · REX A · A · HVNGAR · BOHEM ·GAL·"
Recorded mintage: 521,820.
Specification: 5.34 g, 0.520 fine silver, 23 mm diameter, reeded edge, engraved by Josef Tautenhayn.
Catalog reference: KM 2215, Jaeckel 334; Her. 656.
- Herinek, Gerhard, Austria Münzkatalog: Munzen ab 1745 und Banknoten ab 1759, 49. Auflage, Vienna: Christine Steyrer Verlag, 2022.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Veselý, Roman, Mince a medaile, 19. století, František II ab Karel I, Prague: Aurea Numismatika, 2020.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 165, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2026.
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