Florence (1427) florin Fr-275
This specimen was lot 72051 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2021), where it sold for $2,640. The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY. Fiorino d'Oro, ND (1427). NGC AU-55. Obverse: St. John the Baptist standing facing, holding cruciform scepter and raising hand in benediction; shield (Antonio di Jacopo Canigiani) to upper left; Reverse: Large lily. Very lightly handled, this charming issue offers a good deal of brilliance remaining and emanates from the first semester of 1427." Altho the first florin was issued a generation before the first ducat, the issues of Venice gradually overwhelmed those of Florence to where few florins survive today. This type was struck for nearly two centuries without change; later issues bear the arms of the mintmaster and can be dated to the years of his tenure.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.45 g, 0.986 fine gold.
Catalog reference: Fr-275; Mont-21/11; Bern-2461; Biaggi-799.
- 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.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The June 2021 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
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