Austria 1866-B florin
This specimen was lot 2755 in Sincona sale 43 (Zürich, October 2017), where it sold for 120 CHF (about US$143 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Franz Joseph I. 1848-1916 Gulden 1866 B. Kremnitz. Sehr schön-vorzüglich. Kleine Kratzer. (empire of Austria, Francis Joseph I, 1848-1916, gulden of 1866, Kremnitz mint. Very fine-extremely fine, Small scratches.)"
The florin, about the size of a half dollar, was introduced in Austria in 1857 in a feeble attempt to decimalize the currency. It was accompanied by a quarter florin and a double florin and the half thaler was dropped. The mélange of billon small change was reorganized into twenty, ten, five, one and 5/10 kreuzer. This system obtained, tho the thaler and ducat continued, until another reform introduced the corona in 1892. This type was struck 1866 only at Vienna (A), Kremnitz (B, shown here), Venice (V) and Karlsburg (E); this is a scarce date.
Recorded mintage: 358,843.
Specification: 12.34 g, 0.900 fine silver, 29 mm diameter, this specimen 12.32 g.
Catalog reference: KM 2220, Herinek 29, Veselý 65, Jaeckel 335.
- 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.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, Auction 43: Gold and Silver Coins and Medals, Zurich: Sincona AG, 2017.
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