Austria 1889 2 florins Dav-27
This specimen was lot 1297 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 21 (Winter Park, FL, May 2017), where it sold for $411.25. The catalog description[1] noted, "Austria, 2 florins, Franz Joseph I, 1889, encapsulated NGC MS 64. Flashy luster and a minimum of bagmarks, tied with one other for second finest known in NGC census. NGC #2808986-003." This issue with the portrait of Francis Joseph, emperor of Austria 1848-1916, was struck 1872-92 in limited numbers. Earlier two florin pieces were struck 1859-72. Two florins nominally equalled a thaler but the old thalers (1751-1852) were 28.06 g, 0.833 fine while later thalers (1857-68) were 18.51 g, 0.900 fine silver. In 1892, the currency was reformed again so that 100 heller = one corona. The system collapsed with the regime in the throes of World War One.
Recorded mintage: 146,943.
Specification: 24.69 g, 0.900 fine silver, .714 troy oz AGW, lettered edge, 36 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: Herinek 37, Veselý 60, KM 2233, Dav-27.
- 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.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- [1]Sedwick, Daniel F., Augi Garcia and Cori Sedwick Downing, Treasure Auction #21, featuring Selections from the Richard Stuart Collection, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick, LLC, 2017.
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