Austria 1864-A florin
This specimen was lot 2751 in Sincona sale 43 (Zurich, October 2017), where it sold for 140 CHF (about US$167 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Franz Joseph I. 1848-1916 Gulden 1864 A. Wien. Vorzüglich-FDC. (empire of Austria, Francis Joseph I, 1848-1916, gulden of 1864, Vienna mint. Extremely fine-uncirculated.)"
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 1857-65 at Vienna (A, shown here), Kremnitz (B), Venice (V), Milan (M) and Karlsburg (E); this is a somewhat scarce date.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 12.34 g, .900 fine silver, this specimen 12.37 g.
Catalog reference: KM 2219, Herinek 529, Jaeckel 328.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, Auction 43: Gold and Silver Coins and Medals, Zurich: Sincona AG, 2017.
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