ITALY, Firenze. Republic. 1189-1532. AV Fiorino d’oro (20mm, 3.54 g, 6h). Segno: pitcher. Struck 1267-1303. EF.

Keystone 16 – The David C. Bianchi II Collection
Lot: 543.
Closing Date: May 20 2026 10:00 ET

Medieval & Early Modern World – Other, Gold

Estimate: $ 1 500

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ITALY, Firenze. Republic. 1189-1532. AV Fiorino d’oro (20mm, 3.54 g, 6h). Segno: pitcher. Struck 1267-1303. Ornate lily of Florence / St. John the Baptist standing facing, holding long cross. MIR 4/63; Berrnocchi 284; Friedberg 275. Underlying luster. EF. Well struck.

From the David C. Bianchi II Collection.

The Fiorino d'oro – known in English as the gold Florin – was introduced in 1252, and depicted on its obverse the lily, symbol of Florence, and on the reverse a figure of St. Johnt he Baptist. At the time, Mediterranean trade was dominated by the bezant, a colloquial name for the gold dinars of the various Islamic and Crusader states. But the Fiorino, proving to be a sound and reliable coin, soon overcame the bezants in popularity, thus becoming the first European gold trade coinage since Roman times. The type was imitated throughout Europe, with vast numbers struck not only in Florence, but in Hungary, France, and Spain as well. These early imitations generally conformed to the lily/Saint type, with later issues gradually developing more local types, while still retaining the Florentine weight standard.

Closing Date and Time: 20 May 2026 at 13:00:40 ET.



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