Austria Florin Guilders LMU

1) Recognition - Name - Country of Origin
The Austrian Mint issued reproductions of two historical gold coins, the 4 Gulden and the 8 Gulden gold coins, starting from the early 1950s. These reproductions all bear the year 1892, the last year in which these coins were originally minted. These gold coins have gained immense popularity and recognition and contain a fineness of 900/1000.

2) Description of the Coin
The obverse (front) of the coin features a profile portrait of Emperor Franz Joseph I, adorned with a laurel wreath and facing right. The inscription "FRANCISCVS IOSEPHVS I D G IMPERATOR ET REX" (Francis Joseph I, Emperor and King by the Grace of God) is visible. "D G" stands for "DEI GRATIA" (by the grace of God). The reverse side displays the imperial and royal double-headed eagle with the coat of arms. The eagle carries the imperial sword and a royal orb in its talons. The inscription "IMPERIVM - AVSTRIACVM" surrounds the design. On the sides of the eagle's talons, the nominal value is indicated as "4Fl" (4 Florin) or "8Fl" (8 Florin), and "10Fr" or "20 Fr" (Francs) respectively. The edge is smooth and bears the inscription "VIRIBUS UNITIS" (with united forces).

3) Face Value - Legal Tender - Value
These gold investment coins are considered bullion or historical collector's items and are no longer legal tender.

4) Other Units - Denominations
There are no other units or denominations of these gold coins, as shown in the table below.

5) Special Features - Minting Years - History - Mintage
Between 1858 and 1865, so-called "Vereinskronen" (union crowns) were minted as gold coins, but initially, the Gulden in the 19th century served as a silver currency. After the defeat in the war against Prussia in 1866, the Habsburg Monarchy was no longer part of the German Confederation. Austria then aligned itself with the Latin Monetary Union (LMU), founded in 1865 by France, Italy, Belgium, and Switzerland. Although Austria signed a preliminary agreement to join the LMU in 1867, Vienna ultimately refrained from official accession. Nevertheless, in 1870, Austria issued two gold coins identical in all aspects to their French counterparts, the 10-Franc and 20-Franc coins. In 1892, Austria adopted the Crown currency, replacing the Gulden coins. The 4 Florin (Gulden) coin reached its highest mintage in 1977 with 211,343 pieces and was last minted in 1999. The 8 Florin (Gulden) coin had its peak mintage in 1968 with 336,719 pieces and was last minted in 1988.