Tuscan florin
fiorino (Italian)
One fiorino by Leopold II
Unit
Symbolƒ‎
Denominations
Subunit
 1⁄100quattrino
Coinsq.1, q.3, q.5, q.10, q.20, p.1
ƒ1, ƒ2, ƒ4
 Rarely usedƒ1⁄4, ƒ1⁄2, ƒ20, ƒ60, ƒ80
Demographics
Official user(s)Tuscany Tuscany
Unofficial user(s)Italy United Provinces of Central Italy
Issuance
MintFlorence Mint
This infobox shows the latest status before this currency was rendered obsolete.

The Tuscan fiorino (plural: fiorini) was the currency of Tuscany between 1826 and 1859. It was subdivided into 100 quattrini (singular: quattrino), a local currency made by four denari (from the Latin: quater denarii). There was an additional denomination called the paolo, worth 40 quattrini, in circulation.

History

During the Napoleonic Wars, Tuscany was annexed by France and the French franc was introduced, together with its satellite Italian lira. The previous lira did not disappear, creating a big confusion between the old Tuscan lira and the new Italian lira. So, when Duke Leopold II rose to power in 1824, he decided to introduce a new basic currency. The fiorino replaced the Tuscan lira at a rate of 1+2⁄3 lire = 1 fiorino.[1] In 1847, Tuscany absorbed Lucca and the fiorino replaced the Luccan lira at a rate of 1 fiorino = 2 lire. After a brief revolutionary coinage, the fiorino was replaced in 1859 by a provisional currency denominated in "Italian lira", equal to the Sardinian lira, with 1 fiorino = 1.4 Italian lire.

Coins

Copper coins were struck in denominations of 1 and 3 quattrini, together with billon 5 and 10 quattrini, silver 1⁄2, 1 and 5 paolo, 1⁄4, 1⁄2, 1 and 4 fiorini. Gold coins included the sequin (Italian: zecchino), ruspone and 80 fiorini, the latter two equalled 3 and 10 sequins respectively.

See also

References

  • Krause, Chester L.; Clifford Mishler (1991). Standard Catalog of World Coins: 1801–1991 (18th ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 0873411501.
  1. ↑ This fact was quite obvious, because the pound was equivalent to 240 denari or 60 quattrini, while the fiorino was equivalent to 100 quattrini or 400 denari.
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