Item number: A1827

Year: AD 1883

Material: Gold (.900)

Size: 20 x 20 mm

Weight: 6.45g

Manufactured by: Austrian Mint, Vienna

Provenance: Fuchin Coin 2024

This is a gold coin issued in AD 1883 in the name of Emperor Franz Joseph I of the Austrian Empire, with a denomination of 20 Francs and 8 Florins. When used on banknotes, the Florin was referred to as the Gulden.

The obverse of the coin features a right-facing portrait of Franz Joseph I, adorned with a laurel wreath. Encircling the portrait is the Latin inscription “FRANCISCVS · IOSEPHVS · I · D · G · IMPERATOR · ET · REX,” which translates to “Franz Joseph, by the grace of God, Emperor and King.” The portrait was designed by the engraver Josef Hermann Tautenhayn for a commemorative medal issued in AD 1867 to mark Franz Joseph’s coronation as King of Hungary. Below the portrait is a six-pointed star.

The reverse of the coin prominently displays the imperial coat of arms of the Austrian Empire. At the centre is the shield of the ruling Habsburg–Lorraine dynasty, divided into three vertical sections. The left section features a crowned, rampant lion, symbolising the original county of the House of Habsburg. The central section, with vertical stripes alternating with horizontal ones, represents the red-white-red pattern of the Duchy of Austria. The right section features three diagonal eagles, representing the Duchy of Lorraine. Surrounding the shield is the collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece, which is supported by the double-headed imperial eagle, displayed with outstretched wings and a protruding tongue. Each head of the eagle is crowned with a circular Holy Roman Imperial Crown (Bügelkrone), above which hover the Austrian Crown and a sash. The eagle’s talons clutch a sword and sceptre in one, and an orb surmounted by a cross in the other, symbolising divine right to rule. The coin’s denomination, “8FL·” and “20Fr.,” denoting 8 Florins and 20 Francs respectively, is inscribed on either side of the eagle’s tail feathers. Above, the Latin inscription “IMPERIVM AVSTRIACVM,” meaning “Austrian Empire,” is engraved, while the year of issuance, “1883,” is inscribed below. The designer of the coin was Antonín Scharf, then an engraver at the Austrian Mint.

The edge of the coin bears the Latin inscription “VIRIBUS UNITIS,” meaning “With United Forces,” which was Franz Joseph I’s personal motto.

In AD 1865, the Latin Monetary Union (LMU) was established to facilitate currency standardisation among its member states and promote commercial transactions. The member states adopted a bimetallic standard based on the French Franc, allowing their currencies to circulate freely among them. Although the Austro-Hungarian Empire did not officially join the LMU in AD 1867, it signed a separate agreement with France, leading to the issuance of a limited number of 4 Florin and 8 Florin gold coins, corresponding in value to the 10 Franc and 20 Franc coins of France. These Austrian coins adhered to the same specifications and fineness. However, fluctuations in international precious metal prices and the unilateral policies of member states gradually undermined the LMU’s influence, ultimately leading to its dissolution in AD 1927. This particular type of gold coin was minted between AD 1870 and AD 1892. In AD 1892, the Gulden/Florin was replaced by the Krone.

Franz Joseph I, Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary, ascended to the throne in AD 1848 and ruled until his death in AD 1916, a reign spanning 68 years, making him one of the longest-reigning monarchs in European history. His tenure witnessed the twilight of monarchy and was marked by significant upheavals. Upon his accession, Europe was experiencing a series of major disturbances, including the Revolutions of AD 1848, which swept across multiple countries, demanding freedom and national independence. During his reign, he presided over the Crimean War (AD 1853–1856), which extended Austrian influence into the Danubian Principalities but at the cost of deteriorating relations with Russia. The defeat in the Austro-Prussian War of AD 1866 diminished Austria’s influence over the German states, while Hungarian nationalists seized the opportunity to force Austria into restructuring as the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy. The unification of Italy in AD 1870 resulted in Austria’s loss of nearly all its Italian territories. Following the Congress of Berlin in AD 1878, the Austro-Hungarian Empire occupied Bosnia and Herzegovina, initiating direct rule over the region, while the Ottoman Empire remained its nominal suzerain. In AD 1908, Austria-Hungary formally annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina, a move that infuriated Serbia and Russia, further exacerbating tensions in the Balkans.

Beyond the empire’s decline, Franz Joseph I endured numerous personal tragedies in his later years. In AD 1867, his younger brother, Maximilian, was deposed and executed while serving as Emperor of Mexico. In AD 1889, his only son and heir, Crown Prince Rudolf, committed suicide. In AD 1896, his second brother died suddenly while on pilgrimage to the Holy Land. In AD 1898, his wife, Empress Elisabeth, was assassinated. In AD 1914, his nephew and heir presumptive, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, was assassinated in Sarajevo, in what became known as the “Sarajevo Incident.” This event prompted Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia, setting off a chain reaction that ultimately led to the outbreak of the First World War. Following the war, the empire was dissolved.

物件編號: A1827

年代: 公元 1883 年

材質: 黃金 (900‰)

尺寸: 20 x 20 mm

重量: 6.45g

製造地: 奧地利鑄幣廠，維也納

來源: 福君錢幣 2024

這是一枚公元1883年，以奧地利帝國皇帝法蘭茲·約瑟夫一世之名發行，幣值為20法郎(Flanc)與8弗羅林(Florin)的金幣。弗羅林用於紙鈔上時，則稱為古爾登(Gulden)，中文又譯為萊茵盾。

金幣的正面，為頭戴桂冠的法蘭茲·約瑟夫一世右側肖像。周圍環繞著拉丁文簡寫「FRANCISCVS · IOSEPHVS · I · D · G · IMPERATOR · ET · REX」，意即「法蘭茲·約瑟夫，蒙上帝恩典，皇帝與國王」。肖像的設計出自雕刻家約瑟夫·赫爾曼·陶滕海因(Josef Hermann Tautenhayn)，為公元1867年法蘭茲·約瑟夫加冕為匈牙利國王而設計的紀念獎章。肖像下方有一六芒星。

金幣的背面中央則是奧地利帝國國徽，中央為皇室哈布斯堡–洛林王朝的盾徽，垂直分為三個部分，左邊的戴冠人立雄獅，代表哈布斯堡王朝最初的伯爵領；中間狹長的部分以豎紋–橫紋–豎紋，來表示紅–白–紅，代表著奧地利公國；右側為斜帶上的三隻飛鷹，代表洛林公國。盾徽邊緣懸掛著金羊毛騎士團的鍊章，由展翼吐舌的雙首帝國鷹承托於胸前。帝國鷹的雙首分別配戴神聖羅馬帝國的環狀冠(Bügelkrone)，其上懸浮著奧地利皇冠以及綬帶，雙爪一執劍與權杖，一執十字聖球，代表著天賦王權。尾羽的左右兩側分別為「8FL·」與「20Fr.」，分別代表著幣值「8弗羅林」與「20法郎」。上方刻有拉丁銘文「IMPERIVM AVSTRIACVM 」，意為奧地利帝國。下方則是發行年「1883」。設計者為時任奧地利鑄幣廠雕刻師安東寧·夏爾夫(Antonín Scharf)。

幣稜有拉丁邊銘「VIRIBUS UNITIS」，意即「團結之力量」，為法蘭茲·約瑟夫一世個人之座右銘。

公元1865年，拉丁貨幣同盟(Latin Monetary Union)成立，旨在推動成員國的貨幣一體化，促進商貿往來。成員國以法國法郎為基礎，實行金銀複本位制，允許成員國的貨幣在彼此間自由流通。公元1867年，奧匈帝國雖未加入拉丁貨幣同盟，但與法國單獨簽約，此後奧匈帝國發行了少部分的4弗羅林、8弗羅林金幣，與法國的10法郎、20法郎相對應，採用一致的規格與成色。拉丁貨幣同盟在國際貴金屬價格波動與成員國的自行其是下，影響力逐漸降低，最終於公元1927年正式解體。此形制之金幣鑄行於公元1870至1892年，公元1892年，古爾登/弗羅林被克朗取代。

法蘭茲·約瑟夫一世是奧地利皇帝兼匈牙利國王，自公元1848年登基，統治直至公元1916年去世，統治時間長達68年，是歐洲歷史上在位時間最長的君主之一，見證了君主制的餘暉。其繼位之時，正值歐洲發生一連串重大動盪事件，包括公元1848年的一系列革命，這些革命浪潮席捲歐洲多國，要求自由和民族獨立。他在位期間，經歷了公元1853至1856年的克里米亞戰爭，將勢力範圍拓及多瑙河兩公國，代價為奧俄關係的惡化。公元1866年，普奧戰爭的失敗，奧地利對德意志地區的影響力減弱。匈牙利民族主義者乘勢而起，迫使奧地利帝國改組為奧匈雙元帝國。公元1870年，義大利的統一，使奧地利失去了幾乎所有義大利領。奧匈帝國於公元1878年柏林會議後佔領了波斯尼亞和黑塞哥維那，並開始對該地區進行統治，原統治者鄂圖曼土耳其帝國成為名義上的宗主國。公元1908年，奧匈帝國正式吞併了波斯尼亞和黑塞哥維那，這一舉動激怒了塞爾維亞和俄羅斯，加劇了巴爾幹半島的緊張局勢。

除了帝國的衰弱，法蘭茲·約瑟夫一世的晚年亦噩耗連連。公元1867年，其弟馬克西米立安於任墨西哥皇帝時被推翻並槍決。公元1889年，其獨子王儲魯道夫大公自殺。公元1896年，其二弟於聖地朝聖時急病而逝。公元1898年，其妻伊莉莎白遭暗殺。公元1914年，法蘭茲·約瑟夫一世的侄子、皇儲法蘭茲·斐迪南大公在波斯尼亞首府薩拉熱窩被刺殺，史稱「薩拉熱窩事件」。隨後，奧匈帝國向塞爾維亞宣戰，引發了一系列事件，最終導致第一次世界大戰的爆發，帝國於戰後解體。