1856, Tuscany (Grand Duchy), Leopold II. Scarce Silver Fiorino Coin. Mint Year: 1856 Obverse: Bare head of Leopold II of Tuscany right. Engraver´s initials (G.N.) below bust truncation. Reverse: Large fleur-de-lis above denomination (FIORINO) below, quattrini value in words (100) and date (1856) in legend around. Leopold II of Tuscany (Italian: Leopoldo Giovanni Giuseppe Francesco Ferdinando Carlo, German: Leopold Johann Joseph Franz Ferdinand Karl; 3 October 1797 – 29 January 1870) was the last reigning grand duke of Tuscany (1824–1859). He married twice; first to Maria Anna of Saxony, and after her death during 1832, to Maria Antonia of the Two-Sicilies. By the latter, he begat his eventual successor, Ferdinand. Leopold was recognized contemporarily as a liberal monarch, authorizing the Tuscan Constitution of 1848, and allowing a degree of free press. The Grand Duke was deposed briefly by a provisional government during 1849, only to be restored the same year with the assistance of Austrian troops, who occupied the state until 1855. Leopold attempted a policy of neutrality with regard to the Second Italian War of Independence, but was expelled by a bloodless coup on 27 April 1859, just before the beginning of the war. The Grand Ducal family left for Bologna, in Papal territory. Tuscany was occupied by soldiers of Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia for the duration of the conflict. The preliminary peace of Villafranca, agreed to between Napoleon III of France and Franz Joseph of Austria on 11 July, provided for the return of the Lorraines to Florence, but Leopold himself was considered too unpopular to be accepted, so on 21 July 1859 he abdicated the throne in favour of his son, Ferdinand. Ferdinand was not, however, any more acceptable to the revolutionaries in control of Florence, and his accession was not proclaimed. Instead, the provisional government proclaimed the deposition of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine (16 August).
Denomination: 1 Fiorino (100 Quattrini)
References: KM-72a
Weight: ca. 6.88gm
Diameter: 24mm
Material: Silver
Legend: LEOPOLDO II . A . D ' A . GRANDUCA DI TOSCANA
Legend: QUATTRINI CENTO 1856