Austria 1881 4 florins
This specimen was lot 3368 in Sincona Auction 101 (Zürich, October 2025), where it sold for 1,300 CHF (about US$1,959 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"RDR / ÖSTERREICH Franz Joseph I. 1848-1916. 10 Francs (4 Florin) 1881, Wien. Fast FDC. (empire of Austria-Hungary, Francis Joseph I, 1848-1916, ten francs or four florins of 1881, Vienna mint. About Mint State.)"
In an attempt to stabilize her currency, Austria minted gold kronen (a Prussian denomination) 1858-65 and then this four florins 1870-72, 1877-78, 1881-92, which matched the French ten francs. Hungary, granted the right to mint her own coinage after 1867, also issued this denomination (Fr-247). However, the ducat remained the most produced gold coin in Austria until the collapse of the regime in World War One.
Recorded mintage: 6,370.
Specification: 3.22 g, 0.900 fine gold, 19 mm diameter, lettered edge, designed by Josef Tautenhayn and Anton Scharff, this specimen 3.22 g.
Catalog reference: KM 2260, Herinek 283, Fr-503.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- 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]Richter, Jurg, SINCONA Auction 101: World Coins, Medals and Banknotes, Swiss Confederate Coins, Medals and Banknotes, Shooting Coins and Medals, Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2025.
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