4 Florins 10 Francs Austria Gold Coin | New Strike

4 Florins / 10 Francs, Franz Joseph

3.2258 g gross, 900 fine, 2.903 g of pure gold, 19 mm across. The dual denomination is the point of the coin: four Austrian florins and ten French francs, struck to the Latin Monetary Union standard so that it would circulate in both systems.

Specifications

What "new strike" means

Originals were struck from 1870 to 1892. Everything on the bullion market today is an official restrike by the Austrian Mint, carrying the frozen date 1892 whatever year it was actually made. These are genuine government issues from official dies, not reproductions — the mint has simply never stopped making them.

It also means the coin is not scarce, and should be priced on its gold, not on its age.

Obverse and reverse

The obverse shows the laureate head of Franz Joseph I facing right, engraved by Josef Tautenhayn.

The reverse carries the double-headed imperial eagle dividing the value, with IMPERIVM AVSTRIACVM and 4 Fl 10 Fr, by Anton Scharff. The edge reads VIRIBVS UNITIS, the emperor’s motto.

The same coin as a Vreneli, near enough

At 2.903 g of fine gold and 19 mm across, this is the twin of the Swiss 10 franc Vreneli and of any other half-standard Latin Monetary Union piece. The difference is that the Vreneli is a period coin and this is a current restrike, which usually shows in the premium.

Exactly 900, and why that matters

HMRC’s test for gold bullion is a fineness of not less than 900 thousandths. This coin is exactly 900. It clears the threshold, but with nothing to spare — a coin a shade below that line would attract VAT as a collectable rather than being treated as bullion gold.

VAT and UK capital gains tax

HMRC treats a coin minted after 1800 as bullion gold if it is at least 900 thousandths fine, is or has been legal tender in its country of origin, and normally sells at no more than 180 per cent of the open market value of its gold (VAT Notice 701/21A). The coin is 900 fine, was Austrian legal tender and is sold close to the gold price, so it meets all three tests.

Capital gains tax is a separate matter. The UK exemption follows sterling legal tender, so it covers Sovereigns and Britannias but not an Austrian coin. This is a statement of the published rule, not tax advice — your own position depends on your circumstances.

Questions buyers ask

Why is it always dated 1892? Because the Austrian Mint restrikes it with a frozen date. The date tells you the design, not the year of manufacture.

Is a restrike a real coin? Yes. It is struck by the state mint from official dies and is legal tender in the same sense the original was.

How much gold does it contain? 2.903 g of pure gold at 900 fineness.

Why two denominations? So that it would pass at a known value in both the Austrian florin system and the French franc system.

Authenticity checked at GoldInvest24 before dispatch. Other sizes are on the historic gold coins page. Live quotes on the precious metals prices page.