fiorino d’oro

coin

Also known as: gold florin

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Last updated

June 26, 2026

Quick Summary

The fiorino d'oro, or gold florin, was a gold coin first minted in Florence, Italy, in 1252. It was patterned after the Florentine florin and became widely influential, leading to its imitation in various European countries. The coin featured a lily, a symbol of Florence, on one side and the figure of St. John the Baptist on the other. Its consistent weight and fineness contributed to its international fame and widespread adoption. The florin's success spurred the development of other significant gold coins, such as the Venetian ducat.12

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coin
Italy and Sicily
…famous and profuse series of fiorini d’oro, or gold florins. The lily continued as the civic type, together with the standing figure of the Baptist. Regular weight (about 3.50 grams, 54 grains) and fineness won the fiorino universal fame and wide imitation; double florins were introduced in 1504. Venice in…
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…famous and profuse series of fiorini d’oro, or gold florins. The lily continued as the civic type, together with the standing figure of the Baptist. Regular weight (about 3.50 grams, 54 grains) and fineness won the fiorino universal fame and wide imitation; double florins were introduced in 1504. Venice in…
Read More