Florin (English coin) facts for kids
The English florin was a special gold coin made in England way back in 1344. It was also called the double leopard. King Edward III wanted a gold coin that could be used not just in England, but also across Europe.
This new coin was approved on January 27, 1344. It was made from nearly pure gold and weighed about 7 grams. The florin was worth six shillings, which is like 30 modern British pence today.
Other countries in Europe already used a coin called the florin. These coins were first made in Florence in 1252. The English florin was supposed to be twice as heavy as these common European coins.
However, the English florin didn't work out as planned. Its value was set incorrectly, so traders didn't want to use it. It was quickly taken out of circulation. Just a few months later, in August 1344, a new coin called the gold noble replaced it. The gold noble was more successful.
What Did the Florin Look Like?
The front side of the coin, called the obverse, showed King Edward III sitting on his throne under a fancy canopy. You can also see two leopards' heads on the sides. The words around the edge meant "Edward, by the Grace of God King of England and France, Lord of Ireland."
The back side of the coin, called the reverse, had a royal cross inside a shape like a four-leaf clover. There was a leopard in each corner of the clover. The words on this side meant "But Jesus passing through their midst went his way." This phrase comes from a Bible verse.
Where Are the Florins Now?
These old coins are very rare today! We only know of three English florin coins that still exist.
Two of these coins were found together in 1857 near the River Tyne. They are now kept safe at the British Museum.
The third coin was found in 2006 in southern England. It was sold at an auction for a huge amount of money – £460,000! At the time, this was the most money ever paid for a British coin. This coin was later loaned to the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. In 2016, it was sold again for an even higher price, to a private collector in the United States.
In 2013, the English florin was listed as one of the most expensive coins in the world!
