Guilder - The currency of the 19th century
The guilder, which served as the currency in Austria in the 19th century, was minted in silver. Only the "Vereinskronen", which were issued from 1858 to 1866, were made of gold. The gold guilders traded today as bullion coins are "trade gold coins" and are restrikes with a value of 4 or 8 florins.
The Latin Union was founded in 1865. The countries of France, Switzerland, Belgium and Italy agreed to coordinate the value, weight and size of coins in future so that the coins could be used as currency in all member states of the Union. Austria was also given the option to join in 1867, but was unable to achieve the currency ratios required for accession.
Nevertheless, the guilder coins minted from 1870 onwards were based on the gold coins of the Latin Union in all parameters:
The 8 florin coin was equivalent to 8 florins or 20 francs and the 4 florin coin had the value of 4 florins or 10 francs. In 1892, the guilder currency was then replaced by the Austrian crown.
The mint "Münze Österreich" has issued restrikes of the historical guilder - so-called "commercial gold coins". With these gold bullion coins, you have to pay a small premium on top of the current gold price.
The coins have a fineness of 900 and bear the minting date 1892, i.e. the last year in which the guilder was officially minted. The motifs are similar to those of the historical guilder. The only difference is that the denomination of the restrikes is given in both francs and florins. Emperor Franz Joseph I (1848-1916) is depicted on the obverse, while the reverse shows the Austrian coat of arms and the date of issue below it. The smooth edge has an inscription. Copper is used as the alloying metal for hardening.
Compared to the ducats, the number of florin coins issued each year was significantly lower. The 4-gulden coin reached its peak in 1977 with 211,343 pieces, while the record for the 8-gulden coin was 336,719 pieces in 1968. In most other years, there was no mintage at all or only a very limited one. The last 500 copies of the 8-gulden coin were issued in 1988, and the minting of the 4-gulden piece was discontinued in 1999.
You are welcome to visit one of our branches in Vienna and let our experts give you detailed advice on the guilder, gold investments and other precious metals.
Of course, you can also buy the coin directly online from home. The current price is fixed for you with just one click.
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