The gold florin

In short

Florence began to mint the florin, a coin of almost pure gold weighing about three and a half grams. On one side was the lily, the symbol of the city, on the other St John the Baptist, its patron saint. Because the weight and quality of the gold always stayed the same, merchants and bankers all over Europe trusted it. Florins were used to pay for goods, loans and even armies.

Why it matters It was a kind of medieval ‘euro’ and made Florence one of the capitals of finance.

Source: Treccani, entry “Fiorino”

Where we are in the era “Late Middle Ages”

Your turn

Name ______________________ Class ______ Date __________

1. When did it happen? Find the date at the top and write it here:

2. Tell it in your own words: what happened?

3. Draw the scene below.

storiascopio.com/en/event/the-gold-florin/ · free worksheet, you may photocopy it for your class