This article is about the historical coinage called "florin". For other uses, see Florin (disambiguation).
The Florentineflorin was a gold coin (in Italian Fiorino d'oro) struck from 1252 to 1533 with no significant change in its design or metal content standard during that time.[1] It had 54 grains (3.499 grams, 0.1125 troy ounces) of nominally pure or 'fine' gold[2] with a purchasing power difficult to estimate (and variable) but ranging according to social grouping and perspective from approximately 140 to 1,000 modern US dollars. The name of the coin comes from the Giglio bottonato (it), the floral emblem of the city, which is represented at the head of the coin.[3]
The back of an Italian florin coinFlorin from the Środa treasure
The fiorino d'oro (gold florin) was used in the Republic of Florence and was the first European gold coin struck in sufficient quantities since the 7th century to play a significant commercial role. The florin was recognised across large parts of Europe. The territorial usage of the lira and the florin often overlapped; where the lira was used for smaller transactions (wages, food purchases), the florin was for larger transactions such as those used in dowries, international trade or for tax-related matters.[4]
The first minting of the florin occurred in 1252. At the time the value of the florin was equal to the lira, but by 1500 the florin had appreciated; seven lire amounted to one florin.[4]
In the 14th century, about a 150 European states and local coin-issuing authorities made their own copies of the florin. The most important of these was the Hungarian forint, because the Kingdom of Hungary was a major source of European gold (until mining in the New World began to contribute to the supply in the 16th and 17th centuries, most of the gold used in Europe came from Africa).[citation needed]
The design of the original Florentine florins was the distinctive fleur-de-lis badge of the city on one side and on the other a standing and facing figure of St. John the Baptist[5] wearing a cilice. On other countries' florins, the inscriptions were changed (from "Florentia" around the fleur, and the name of the saint on the other), and local heraldic devices were substituted for the fleur-de-lis. Later, other figures were often substituted for St. John. On the Hungarian forints, St. John was re-labelled St. Ladislaus, an early Christian king and patron saint of Hungary, and a battle axe substituted for the original's sceptre. Gradually the image became more regal looking.[citation needed]
The term florin was borrowed elsewhere in Europe. A variant of the florin was the Rheingulden, minted by several German states encompassing the commercial centers of the Rhein (Rhine) River valley, under a series of monetary conventions starting in 1354, initially at a standard practically identical to the Florentine florin (98% gold, 3.54 grams). By 1419, the weight had been slightly reduced (to 3.51 grams) and the alloy was substantially reduced (to 79% gold). By 1626, the alloy had been slightly reduced again (to 77% gold), while the weight was more substantially reduced (to 3.240 grams). In 1409, the Rheingulden standard (at the time 91.7% gold) was adopted for the Holy Roman Empire's Reichsgulden.[6]
The Dutch guilder is symbolized as Fl. or ƒ, which means florijn (florin).
In Ireland, a silver florin coin (worth one-tenth of an Irish pound, with Irish inscription flóirín) was minted between 1928 and 1943; it became cupronickel in 1943 and was withdrawn from use on 1 June 1994.[9]
^See the Ricordanze di S. Maria di Cafaggio, which mentions florins being used in the year MCCL (1250).
^Bernocchi, Mario (1976). Le monete della repubblica fiorentina. Vol. III. Leo S. Olschki Editore. p. 66.
^Bazzicchi, Oreste (2011). Il paradosso francescano tra povertà e società di mercato. Effatà Editrice. p. 98. ISBN978-88-7402-665-4.
^ abHollingsworth, Mary (2017). "A Note to the Reader". The Medici. Head of Zeus. ISBN978-1-78669-151-4.
^Horner, Susan; Horner, Joanna B. (1884). Walks in Florence and Its Environs. Vol. 2. Smith. p. 125.
^W. A. Shaw (1967) [1896]. The History of Currency 1252–1894 (reprint of second ed.). New York: Augustus Kelley. LCCN 67020086.
^John S. Dye (1883). Dye's coin encyclopædia: a complete illustrated history of the coins of the world ... Bradley & company. p. 761. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
History of the British Florin 2013-05-24 at the Wayback Machine
January 01, 1970
florin, this, article, about, historical, coinage, called, florin, other, uses, disambiguation, florentine, florin, gold, coin, italian, fiorino, struck, from, 1252, 1533, with, significant, change, design, metal, content, standard, during, that, time, grains,. This article is about the historical coinage called florin For other uses see Florin disambiguation The Florentine florin was a gold coin in Italian Fiorino d oro struck from 1252 to 1533 with no significant change in its design or metal content standard during that time 1 It had 54 grains 3 499 grams 0 1125 troy ounces of nominally pure or fine gold 2 with a purchasing power difficult to estimate and variable but ranging according to social grouping and perspective from approximately 140 to 1 000 modern US dollars The name of the coin comes from the Giglio bottonato it the floral emblem of the city which is represented at the head of the coin 3 The back of an Italian florin coin Florin from the Sroda treasure Contents 1 History 2 Other coins 3 See also 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksHistory editSee also History of coins in Italy The fiorino d oro gold florin was used in the Republic of Florence and was the first European gold coin struck in sufficient quantities since the 7th century to play a significant commercial role The florin was recognised across large parts of Europe The territorial usage of the lira and the florin often overlapped where the lira was used for smaller transactions wages food purchases the florin was for larger transactions such as those used in dowries international trade or for tax related matters 4 The first minting of the florin occurred in 1252 At the time the value of the florin was equal to the lira but by 1500 the florin had appreciated seven lire amounted to one florin 4 In the 14th century about a 150 European states and local coin issuing authorities made their own copies of the florin The most important of these was the Hungarian forint because the Kingdom of Hungary was a major source of European gold until mining in the New World began to contribute to the supply in the 16th and 17th centuries most of the gold used in Europe came from Africa citation needed The design of the original Florentine florins was the distinctive fleur de lis badge of the city on one side and on the other a standing and facing figure of St John the Baptist 5 wearing a cilice On other countries florins the inscriptions were changed from Florentia around the fleur and the name of the saint on the other and local heraldic devices were substituted for the fleur de lis Later other figures were often substituted for St John On the Hungarian forints St John was re labelled St Ladislaus an early Christian king and patron saint of Hungary and a battle axe substituted for the original s sceptre Gradually the image became more regal looking citation needed Other coins edit nbsp Gold florin or Beiersgulden struck in Holland under John of Bavaria nbsp Gold florin or Philippus goudgulden struck in Dordrecht under Philip the Fair The term florin was borrowed elsewhere in Europe A variant of the florin was the Rheingulden minted by several German states encompassing the commercial centers of the Rhein Rhine River valley under a series of monetary conventions starting in 1354 initially at a standard practically identical to the Florentine florin 98 gold 3 54 grams By 1419 the weight had been slightly reduced to 3 51 grams and the alloy was substantially reduced to 79 gold By 1626 the alloy had been slightly reduced again to 77 gold while the weight was more substantially reduced to 3 240 grams In 1409 the Rheingulden standard at the time 91 7 gold was adopted for the Holy Roman Empire s Reichsgulden 6 The Dutch guilder is symbolized as Fl or ƒ which means florijn florin The English coin first issued in 1344 by Edward III of England is also known as a florin Originally valued at six shillings it was composed of 108 grains 6 99828 grams of gold with a purity of 23 carats and 3 1 2 grains or 23 7 8 carats 7 8 and more recently relating to a British pre decimal silver coin later nickel silver also known as a two shilling or two bob bit abbreviation 2 worth 24 pence or one tenth of a pound In Ireland a silver florin coin worth one tenth of an Irish pound with Irish inscription floirin was minted between 1928 and 1943 it became cupronickel in 1943 and was withdrawn from use on 1 June 1994 9 The Hungarian forint is named after the florin 10 See also edit nbsp Money portal nbsp Numismatics portal Denaro coin it Florin Australian coin History of coins in Italy Soldo Venetian ducat Venetian grosso Venetian liraReferences edit See the Ricordanze di S Maria di Cafaggio which mentions florins being used in the year MCCL 1250 Bernocchi Mario 1976 Le monete della repubblica fiorentina Vol III Leo S Olschki Editore p 66 Bazzicchi Oreste 2011 Il paradosso francescano tra poverta e societa di mercato Effata Editrice p 98 ISBN 978 88 7402 665 4 a b Hollingsworth Mary 2017 A Note to the Reader The Medici Head of Zeus ISBN 978 1 78669 151 4 Horner Susan Horner Joanna B 1884 Walks in Florence and Its Environs Vol 2 Smith p 125 W A Shaw 1967 1896 The History of Currency 1252 1894 reprint of second ed New York Augustus Kelley LCCN 67020086 John S Dye 1883 Dye s coin encyclopaedia a complete illustrated history of the coins of the world Bradley amp company p 761 Retrieved 22 February 2012 Palgrave Sir Robert Harry Inglis 1912 Dictionary of political economy Macmillan and Co p 82 Retrieved 22 February 2012 Coinage Calling In Order 1993 S I No 270 of 1993 Signed on 16 September 1993 by Bertie Ahern Minister for Finance Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland Retrieved from Irish Statute Book Engel Pal 2001 The realm of St Stephen a history of medieval Hungary 895 1526 London I B Tauris ISBN 1 4175 4080 X OCLC 56676014 Bibliography edit Ian Cnulle s Florin Society for Creative Anachronism Archive Archived from the original on 11 August 2017 Retrieved 11 March 2023 Philip Grierson 1991 Coins of Medieval Europe Seaby London ISBN 1 85264 058 8 Peter Spufford 1988 Money and its use in medieval Europe Cambridge University Press ISBN 0 521 37590 8 Peter Spufford 1986 Handbook of Medieval Exchange Royal Historical Society London ISBN 0 86193 105 X Richard A Goldthwaite The Economy of Renaissance Florence 1 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fiorino nbsp Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica article Florin Money museum Fiorino d Oro History of the British Florin Archived 2013 05 24 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Florin amp oldid 1212318793, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
