florin

noun

flo·​rin ˈflȯr-ən 

ˈflär-

1

a

: an old gold coin first struck at Florence in 1252

b

: any of various European gold coins patterned after the Florentine florin

2

a

: a British silver coin worth two shillings

b

: any of several similar coins issued in parts of the Commonwealth of Nations

3

: gulden

Examples of florin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Known as a leopard florin, it was minted under Edward III and sold at auction yesterday for £140,000 (around $185,000). —Dieynaba Young, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Mar. 2022

The leopard coin, also known as a half florin, was only minted from January to July 1344. —Isis Davis-Marks, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 June 2021

Despite taking an advance of 25 florins, Leonardo did not deliver. —Jason Daley, Smithsonian, 5 June 2019

Tulip mania hit its peak in 1637 when a box of 40 bulbs sold for 100,000 florins or the equivalent today of approximately one million euros. —Neil Senturia, sandiegouniontribune.com, 25 Sep. 2017

In 1498, a Bible composed of over 2,000 folio pages sold for 6 florins. —Rachel Adler, Slate Magazine, 4 Aug. 2017

A stash of 30 gold florins minted in the Italian Republic of Florence in the last half of the 13th century also help to date the wreck. —Jason Daley, Smithsonian, 21 Mar. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Middle English floryn, florein, floren, borrowed from Anglo-French florin, florein, borrowed from Medieval Latin florenus, florinus, from Latin flōr-, flōs flower entry 1 + -īnus -ine entry 1 (after Italian fiorino); so called from the lily on the obverse of the coin, a symbol of Florence

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

florin

noun

flor·​in

ˈflȯr-ən,

ˈflär-,

ˈflōr-

1

: an old gold coin first made in Florence in 1252

2

: any of various coins patterned after the florin