Albania 1938-R 50 franga ari
The first specimen was lot 1021 in Sincona sale 66 (Zürich, October 2020), where it sold for 2,600 CHF (about US$3,423 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ALBANIA | misc. Zogu I. Präsident 1925-1928, König 1928-1939. 50 Franga Ari 1938 R, Rom. Auf sein 10-jähriges Regierungsjubiläum. Selten. Nur 600 Exemplare geprägt. (kingdom of Albania, Zog I, 1928-39, fifty franga ari of 1938, Rome mint, on his tenth anniversary of rule. Rare. Only 600 pieces struck. NGC MS64.)"
The second specimen was lot 23009 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2023), where it sold for $2,880. The catalog description[2] noted, "ALBANIA. 50 Franga Ari, 1938-R. Rome Mint. Zog I. NGC MS-62. Fr-16; KM-25. Mintage: 600. A RARE type commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the reign of Zog, this entirely attractive and fully presentable example flickers with a gorgeous shimmering luster and is only limitedly contacted. Supremely charming and seldom offered, and as such, certain to be much desired by specialists in Albanian coinage. From the Star City Homer Collection." The third specimen was lot 54014 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2024), where it sold for $3,840. The catalog description[1] noted, "ALBANIA. 50 Franga Ari, 1938-R. Rome Mint. Zog I. PCGS MS-64. A true RARITY from the Albanian series commemorating the Tenth anniversary of the Reign of Zog, examples of this hefty gold Albanian issue are consistently demanded. Approaching the top of the population report, the present example is surpassed by only two pieces encapsulated by PCGS. Glowing with a lively and cartwheeling luster, this example will suffer no shortage of excited bidders." Albania was created in 1912 during the Balkan Wars by the Great Powers as a means of preventing the region from falling into Greek or Serbian control. She was occupied by Austria during World War One but had her independence restored by the Treaty of Versailles. King Zog, tho a ruthless and capable leader, was unable to prevent Albania from falling into Italy's orbit and Mussolini's grandiose plans for the restoration of the Roman Empire. In 1939, Italy invaded and annexed Albania.
Recorded mintage: 600.
Specification: 16.13 g, 0.900 fine gold.
Catalog reference: KM 24, Mont. 24. Schl. 34. Fr-16.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Jürg Richter, Auction 66, Gold and Silver Coins and Medals, featuring the Claude Stritt Collection, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2020.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The January 2023 NYINC Auction: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Taraszka Collection and the Mark and Dottie Salton Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
- [3]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, January 2024 NYINC Auction, featuring the Emilio M Ortiz Collection and a Symphony of Russian Rarities, the Rothschild-Piatigorsky Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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