Austria 1886 8 florins
This specimen was lot 1661 in Sincona sale 90 (Zürich, May 2024), where it sold for 325 CHF (about US$ including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"RDR / ÖSTERREICH, Franz Joseph I. 1848-1916. 8 Florin-20 Francs 1886, Wien. Sehr schön-vorzüglich. Kleiner Randfehler. (empire of Austria-Hungary, Francis Joseph I, 1848-1916, eight florins or twenty francs of 1886, Vienna mint. Very fine-extremely fine, Minor edge flaw.)"
In an attempt to stabilize her currency, Austria minted gold kronen (a Prussian denomination) 1858-65 and then this eight florins 1870-92, which matched the French twenty francs. Hungary, granted the right to mint her own coinage after 1867, also issued this denomination (Fr-243). However, the ducat remained the most produced gold coin in Austria until the collapse of the regime in World War One.
Recorded mintage: 140,000, a common date.
Specification: 6.45 g, 0.900 fine gold, 21 mm diameter, this specimen 6.43 g.
Catalog reference: KM 2269, Herinek 245, Fr-502.
- 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, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 90, Münzen und Medaillen der Welt, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2024.
Link to: