The Florins of Bohemia and Luxembourg of John the Blind

Gold coins began to be minted in Central Europe in 1325 by John the Blind, King of Bohemia (1310–1346), and shortly after also by Charles Robert of Anjou, King of Hungary (1309–1342). The growing price of gold in the first half of the fourteenth century was one of motivation factors for the extensive production of imitation florins throughout Europe1. The mass production of papal florins issued by John XXII (1316–1334)2 and a wide range of the trade and financial activities of Florentine merchants and bankers made their circulation easier. The gold coinage spread from Italy to the transalpine regions where Italian mint-masters helped introducing gold production3.

Florentine financiers were involved in the introduction of Prague groschen in Bohemia in 1300 as well as of Bohemian florins in 1325. According to Peter of Zittau, the author of the Chronicon Aulae Regiae and the underrated expert of currency conditions, the four new florins (of the weight of about 3.5 grams each) exceeded the value of the Prague mark of silver (253.14 grams),4 which indicates the rate of a Bohemian florin in the amount of 16 Praguegroschen.