Florence (1440) florin Fr-276
This specimen was lot 42416 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $2,880. The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY. Florence. Fiorino d'Oro (Florin/Ducat), ND (1440). Florence Mint. NGC MS-61. Symbols: Circumscribed У and Cross of St. Andrew (mintmaster: Niccolò Valori). Obverse: St. John the Baptist standing facing, holding cruciform staff and raising hand in benediction; symbols to upper left; Reverse: Ornate lily of Florence. The only example of the mintmaster in the NGC census, this Mint State survivor offers a well centered strike paired with a delightful golden-orange hue and some hints of brilliance emanating from the protected areas." The gold florin was intended to compete with the Venetian ducat but is today much scarcer.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.49 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 3.48 g.
Catalog reference: Fr-276; Bernocchi-2613.
- 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, August 2024 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, featuring The Emilio M. Ortiz Collection, The Richard Margolis Collection and The Rutherford Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.
Link to:
- Florence (1436) florin Fr-276, Simone Canigiani
- Florence (1470) florin Fr-276, Domenico di Niccolo di Ugolino Martelli
- Coins and currency dated 1440