Digital museum showcasing the collection of worldwide legends over the years! 千古不朽博物館展示多年來收藏的世界傳奇故事!
Austrian Empire
8 Florin
奧地利帝國
8 弗羅林
Item number: A1159
Year: AD 1874
Material: Gold
Size: 21.1 x 21.1 x 1.2 mm
Weight: 6.45 g
Manufactured by: Münze Österreich
Provenance: Künker 2024
This coin, minted and issued by the Austrian Empire in AD 1874, has a denomination of 8 Florins (20 Francs).
The obverse of the coin features a right-facing portrait of Emperor Franz Joseph I of the Austrian Empire, depicted with a beard and wearing a laurel crown. Surrounding the portrait is the Latin inscription “FRANCISCVS·IOSEPHVS·I·D·G·IMPERATOR·ET·REX,” which translates to “Franz Joseph I, King and Emperor, by the Grace of God.” The reverse displays the double-headed eagle coat of arms of the Austrian Empire, with the Latin inscription “IMPERIVM AVSTRIACVM,” meaning Austrian Empire. At the bottom, flanking the sides, is the coin’s denomination “8Fl 20Fr,” with the year of issue, “1874,” directly below.
The edge of the coin bears the Latin motto “VIRIBVS VNITIS,” which translates to “With United Forces,” reflecting Franz Joseph I’s personal motto.
Franz Joseph I (AD 1830-AD 1916) was the Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, and one of the longest-reigning monarchs in European history. He ascended to the throne in AD 1848 during a period of significant upheaval in Europe, including the revolutions of that year. His empire’s annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in AD 1908, following the Young Turk Revolution in the Ottoman Empire, contributed to tensions in the Balkans. After the assassination of his nephew, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, in AD 1914, Franz Joseph I reluctantly declared war on Serbia, setting off a chain of events that led to World War I.
In AD 1865, the Austro-Hungarian Empire joined the Latin Monetary Union in Europe. The Austrian Empire first issued Florin gold coins in AD 1870. In AD 1874, a total of 42,000 pieces of this 8 Florin coin were minted. The coin displayed here was produced by the Austrian Mint in Vienna. At that time, the coins were issued in 4 Florins (10 Francs) and 8 Florins (20 Francs) denominations. Florin gold coins ceased production after AD 1891.