What the florin was
The florentine coin people usually mean is the gold florin, called the fiorino d’oro in Italian. It was first struck in the Republic of Florence in 1252 and remained in production, in various forms, until the 1500s. Its importance is that it helped bring regular gold coinage back to western Europe, where silver pennies had dominated for centuries.
Descriptions generally give the florin as a coin of very fine, close to pure gold, weighing about 3.5 grams. Florence’s reputation for keeping that standard steady is a big part of why merchants trusted it.
Design: the lily and St John the Baptist
The design was simple and consistent. One side shows the lily (giglio), the emblem of Florence, with a legend naming the city. The other shows St John the Baptist, the city’s patron saint, standing and facing forward, with a legend naming him. Because the design changed little, a coin from the 13th century and one from the 15th can look broadly similar at a glance, and small differences such as mint-master symbols become important for specialists.
Why it mattered
Florence was a major centre of banking and the wool trade. A coin that merchants could rely on made long-distance trade and lending easier. Over time, many rulers and cities produced florins or coins imitating them, and the name spread widely.
Copies and descendants
- Ducat: Venice introduced its own gold coin in the late 1200s, and it later became a very widely accepted trade coin. See medieval coin names for how it fits among other denominations.
- Gulden: German states struck gold coins on the florin model, and the name gulden is linked to this tradition.
- Forint: The Hungarian currency name derives from “florin”.
- English florin: Edward III issued a gold florin in 1344, but it was quickly withdrawn. A different silver coin called the florin, worth two shillings, circulated in Britain from the 19th century.
The word florin has therefore meant several different things, so always check the date and country.
How much is a gold florin worth today?
There is no single price. Value depends on the specific issue, the date and mint-master marks, the condition, whether the coin is genuine, and the market. Genuine medieval florins are sometimes described as affordable compared with many rarities, but you should check recent auction results from reputable houses and ask a specialist for an opinion rather than rely on a general figure. Gold content alone gives a floor, but collectors pay for age and condition.
Collecting and authenticity notes
Florins were widely imitated in the Middle Ages and have been copied since as jewellery and replicas. Things to check:
- Weight and size against published data.
- Style of the lettering and figure; modern castings often look soft or grainy.
- Signs of a genuine strike, including slight irregularity in a hammered coin. Our guide to hammered coin identification explains what to look for.
- Whether it has been mounted or had a loop removed, which affects value.
When in doubt, a reputable dealer or grading service can help.
Does Italy still use florins?
No. Italy used the lira for modern decades and now uses the euro. Florins no longer circulate there. The old Italian lira coins are generally not rare; most are low in value, though particular scarce dates or errors can be worth more, and it is best to check a catalogue.
Is it the rarest gold coin?
No. The florin was produced in very large numbers over almost three centuries, so many survive. The “rarest gold coin” depends on how rarity is measured; for stories of truly famous rarities, see interesting coins of the world. For other historic gold names, see names of old gold coins.