Tuscan florin
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.
fiorino (Italian) | |
---|---|
Unit | |
Symbol | ƒ |
Denominations | |
Subunit | |
1⁄100 | quattrino |
Coins | q.1, q.3, q.5, q.10, q.20, p.1 ƒ1, ƒ2, ƒ4 |
Rarely used | ƒ1⁄4, ƒ1⁄2, ƒ20, ƒ60, ƒ80 |
Demographics | |
Official user(s) | Tuscany |
Unofficial user(s) | United Provinces of Central Italy |
Issuance | |
Mint | Florence Mint |
This infobox shows the latest status before this currency was rendered obsolete. |
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.
References
- Krause, Chester L.; Clifford Mishler (1991). Standard Catalog of World Coins: 1801–1991 (18th ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 0873411501.
- 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.