Orange. Prince Raymond III (1335-1340) or Raymond IV (1340-1393). Gold Florin, undated. St. John the Baptist standing. Rev. Large fleur-de-lis (Fr 189). In NGC holder graded MS 62. Value $500 - UP
In 1166 the County of Orange was elevated to the status of a principality by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa in order to strengthen the power of the pro-Imperial House of Baux against the pro-French faction in the disintegrating Kingdom of Burgundy. Orange was ruled by scions of the House of Baux until 1393, when the Principality of Orange devolved upon the House of Châlon-Arlay.

This attractive gold florin belongs to a wider series of imitations of the popular Florentine denomination struck by other European states in the fourteenth century. It features identical types to those found on the Florentine florin. John the Baptist, the patron saint of Florence appears on the obverse with an encircling Latin legend identifying him and a large fleur-de-lis appears on the reverse. The only feature that distinguishes this coin from a true Florentine florin is the abbreviated reverse legend (R DI G P AUR) which is translated as "Raymond, by the grace of God, Prince of Orange." The Raymond in question has been variously identified as Raymond III, Raymond IV, or Raymond V, all of whom were relatively obscure sovereign princes of Orange in the second half of the fourteenth century before the rise of the House of Châlon-Arlay.
Ex Terner Collection by Private Treaty.