Description

The Tuscan florin (Italian: fiorino) was the currency of Tuscany between 1826 and 1859. It was subdivided into 100 quattrini (singular: quattrino), a local currency made by four pennies (from the Latin: quater denarii).

The Grand Duchy of Tuscany was ruled by the Medici family from the mid-1500's until its extinction in 1723. Given to Francis of Lorraine as compensation for the loss of his duchy, it passed to the Hapsburgs on his death in 1765 as a junior appanage, that is, it could never be directly ruled by the emperor himself but a cadet prince. Leopold II ruled the region from 1824 until his overthrow in the general unification of Italy in 1859-61. This coin is from the provisional government organized after his ouster and survived for 22 months.

Engraver: Luigi Gori