Albania 1927-R 100 franga ari

Heritage sale 3096, lot 30069

This specimen was lot 30069 in Heritage auction 3096 (Dallas, TX, March 2021), where it sold for $3,600. The catalog description^[1] noted,

"Albania: Zog I gold 100 Franga Ari 1927-R MS62 NGC, Rome mint. Two stars below bust variety. A charming example of this classically designed gold issue, the surfaces soft and velvety with little in the way of distracting marks. Ex. Numismatica Genevensis Auction 2 (November 2002, Lot 249). From the Paramount Collection."

This type was struck for the king of Albania in 1927 to celebrate his coronation. Varieties exist with two stars (shown here), one star or no star below the bust. Mussolini invaded and occupied the country in 1939.

Recorded mintage: 5,000 (all varieties).

Specification: 32.26 g, 0.900 fine gold, 35 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: KM 11a.3, Fr-1.

Source:

• Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• ^[1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, The Paramount Collection World & Ancient Coins: Signature Auction 3096, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.

Link to:

• 1926 20 franga ari
• 1926 100 franga ari
• 1927 ¼ leku
• 1927-R lek
• 1927-R frang ar
• 1927-R 2 franga ari
• 1927-R 10 franga ari, king Zog
• 1927-V 20 franga ari, Skanderbeg
• 1927-R 20 franga ari, king Zog
• 1928-R 100 franga ari, head left in wreath
• Coins and currency dated 1927