Despite the postcard image famous around the world, the sunny disposition of its inhabitants is just a clever disguise. Every Tuscan has been in mourning for a few centuries. Deep in our hearts we fear that we will never be able to rival the accomplishments of our ancestors and get back to the golden age of our land, when a perfect storm of financial power, brains and political savvy made our region the heart and soul of Western Civilisation. While there are tons of books dedicated to the Renaissance, not much is said about the fuel behind this amazing blooming of art and culture: money. Tuscany was rich, so rich that for the first time since antiquity was able to start producing regularly gold coins, the "fiorini d'oro". The coins with the Florentine fleur de lys and the icon of the patron saint of the city, Saint John the Baptist, became the universal currency of Christendom, where they were literally considered "good as gold". The story of the golden florin and how its availability was a game changer, allowing the explosion of trade that would transform Europe forever, is quite fascinating, which is why this week we've decided to talk about the "dollar of the Middle Age". From its birth fueled by a string of military victories to the constant fight against attempts of forgery, a crime that was punishable by death at the stake, the march of the coin that made Tuscany rich seemed unstoppable. Many tried to copy it but were unsuccessful. Its demise came when the Medici family started believing their own hype and considering themselves bigger than Florence. Their political ploy to build a cult of personality was probably one of the greatest own goals in history. Follow us as we tell you the tales around this remarkable coin and its surprising role in history. Let us know what you think of this story by dropping us a note on our social media accounts - every feedback is greatly appreciated:
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LINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN ONLY)
http://www.ilgiornaledellanumismatica.it/dossier-speciale-il-fiorino-di-firenze-breve-storia-del-dollaro-del-medioevo/
https://wordsinfreedom.com/come-nasce-moneta-la-storia-del-fiorino-doro/
http://www.grandoblone.it/div/fiorino-oro.html
https://www.florencecity.it/larte-del-cambio-e-il-fiorino/
https://curiositasufirenze.wordpress.com/2011/08/06/san-giovanni-non-vuole-inganni/
https://www.bpp.it/Apulia/html/archivio/1995/II/art/R95II004.html

BACKGROUND MUSIC
Title: Coffee And Time
Artist: Pipe Choir
License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Links: https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/p-c-iii-coffee-and-time-creative-commons-instrumental
http://www.pipechoir.com/