Austria 1888 4 florins

Sincona sale 66, lot 1892

This specimen was lot 1892 in Sincona sale 66 (Zürich, October 2020), where it sold for 1,300 CHF (about US$1,712 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"HEILIGES ROMISCH REICH, Franz Joseph I. 1848-1916. 4 Florin-10 Francs 1888, Wien. Selten. Nur 4'145 Exemplare geprägt. (Austria, Francis Joseph I, 1848-1916, four florins or ten francs of 1888, Vienna mint. Rare. Only 4'145 pieces struck. PCGS AU53.)"

In an attempt to stabilize her currency, Austria minted gold kronen (a Prussian denomination) 1858-65 and then this four florins 1870-72, 1877-78, 1881-92, which matched the French ten francs. Hungary, granted the right to mint her own coinage after 1867, also issued this denomination (Fr-247). However, the ducat remained the most produced gold coin until the collapse of the regime in World War One.

Recorded mintage: 4,145.

Specification: 3.22 g, 0.900 fine gold, 19 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: KM 2260, Herinek 18, Veselý 56, Fr-503.

Source:

• 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]Jürg Richter, Auction 66, Gold and Silver Coins and Medals, featuring the Claude Stritt Collection, Zurich: Sincona AG, 2020.

Link to:

• Hungary 1883-KB 4 forint
• 1885 4 florins/10 francs
• 1887 double florin, Kuttenberg mines
• 1888 florin
• 1888 ducat
• Hungary 1888-KB 8 forint
• 1888 8 florins
• 1889 double florin
• 1891 4 florins/10 francs
• Coins and currency dated 1888