How to Identify the Florentine Florin

What This Coin Is

The florin was first struck by the Republic of Florence in 1252 and quickly became one of the most influential gold trade coins of medieval Europe. Its reliability led many other states to strike their own "florins," so the name became a generic term for gold coinage across the continent.

Obverse Design

The obverse shows a stylized lily (fleur-de-lis), the heraldic emblem of Florence, along with the legend FLOR EN TIA spelling out the city's name around the design.

Reverse Design

The reverse depicts a standing figure of Saint John the Baptist, patron saint of Florence, shown in simple robes with a raised hand, accompanied by the legend S IOHANNES B (Saint John the Baptist).

Size, Weight, Metal, and Edge

Florins were struck at a standard of roughly 3.5 grams in high-purity gold, with a diameter of about 20mm, and a plain edge typical of hand-hammered coinage of the period.

Mint Marks and Attribution

Florence did not employ a mint-mark system in the modern sense; genuine Florentine florins are identified by their consistent style, lettering, and the specific rendering of the lily and Saint John figure. Because so many other city-states and rulers issued their own "florins" copying the design, attribution depends on close comparison of legend wording and artistic style to confirmed Florentine issues.

Telling It Apart From Imitations

Numerous Italian city-states and other European mints, including Perugia and various German and Hungarian issuers, struck imitative florins that closely resemble the Florentine original but substitute their own city name or ruler's title in the legend, or show subtle differences in the lily's shape or the saint's pose. Careful reading of the full legend, rather than a glance at the general design, is essential to confirm a coin was genuinely struck in Florence.

Judging Condition

Look at the crispness of the lily's petals and the folds of Saint John's robe, as well as the legibility of the surrounding legend. Centering can vary due to hand striking, and moderate wear on the high points of the design is normal for circulated examples.

Authenticity Red Flags

Cast copies typically show soft, blurred detail and sometimes a visible seam around the edge. Gilt base-metal fakes may reveal a different color where the surface has worn. Be wary of florins whose legend does not clearly spell out Florence's name or that combine a Florentine-style lily with an unrelated or garbled inscription, which usually indicates an imitation rather than a genuine Florentine strike.