Austria 1879 8 florins
This specimen was lot 3060 in Sincona sale 23 (Zürich, May 2015), where it sold for 300 CHF (about US$377 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"RDR/ÖSTERREICH, Franz Joseph I. 1848-1916 8 Florin-20 Francs 1879. Wien. Fast vorzüglich-vorzüglich. (Austrian empire, Francis Joseph (1848-1916), eight florin/twenty francs of 1879, Vienna mint, extremely fine.)"
In an attempt to stabilize her currency, Austria minted gold kronen (a Prussian denomination) 1858-65 and then this eight florins 1870-92, which matched the French twenty francs. Hungary, granted the right to mint her own coinage after 1867, also issued this denomination (KM 455.1). However, the ducat remained the most produced gold coin in Austria until the collapse of the regime in World War One.
Recorded mintage: 43,146.
Specification: 6.45 g, 0.900 fine gold, 21 mm diameter; this specimen is 6.45 g.
Catalog reference: Herinek 19, Veselý 55, Schl. 596. Fr-502, KM 2269.
- 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]Richter, Jürg, Ruedi Kunzmann and Arne Kirsch, Numismatic Coins & Medals, Auction 23, Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2015.
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