Austria 1888 8 florins
This specimen was lot 3064 in Sincona sale 23 (Zürich, May 2015), where it sold for 275 CHF (about US$346 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"RDR/ÖSTERREICH, Franz Joseph I. 1848-1916 8 Florin-20 Francs 1888. Wien. Vorzüglich-FDC. (Austrian empire, Francis Joseph (1848-1916), eight florin/twenty francs of 1888, Vienna mint, extremely fine to uncirculated.)"
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. However, the ducat remained the most produced gold coin until the collapse of the regime in World War One.
Recorded mintage: 114,000.
Specification: 6.45 g, 0.900 fine gold, 21 mm diameter; this specimen is 6.45 g.
Catalog reference: Herinek 19, Veselý 55, Schl. 604. Fr-502, KM 2269.
- 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.
- 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.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, Ruedi Kunzmann and Arne Kirsch, Numismatic Coins & Medals, Auction 23, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2015.
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