Austria 1884 4 florins
This specimen was lot 2902 in Sincona sale 51 (Zürich, October 2018), where it sold for 550 CHF (about US$664 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Franz Joseph I. 1848-1916. 4 Florin-10 Francs 1884, Wien. Vorzüglich. Überdurchschnittliche Erhaltung. (empire of Austria-Hungary, Francis Joseph I, 1848-1916, four florins of 1884, Vienna mint. Extremely fine, Extraordinary condition.)"
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: 7,518.
Specification: 3.22 g, 0.900 fine gold; 19 mm diameter, this specimen is 3.20 g.
Catalog reference: Herinek 18, Veselý 56, Schl. 618. Fr-502, KM 2260.
- 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.
- Veselý, Roman, Mince a medaile, 19. století, František II ab Karel I, Prague: Aurea Numismatika, 2020.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, Sincona Auction 51: Gold and Silver Coins and Medals; Coins and Medals from Switzerland, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2018.
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