Bulgaria 1916 lev
The first specimen was lot 32342 in Heritage sale 3089 (Dallas, TX, January 2021), where it sold for $4,560. The catalog description[1] noted, "Bulgaria. Ferdinand I Lev 1916 MS63 NGC. Pleasingly frosted over Ferdinand's bust, the fields carrying mesmerizing lustrous depth and quite watery in character. About as appealing as one could possibly expect for a coin at this level of certification, with no meaningfully distracting instances or handling discernible." The second specimen was lot 20092 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (Newport Beach, CA, January 2021), where it sold for $5,280. The catalog description[2] noted, "BULGARIA. Lev, 1916. Ferdinand I. NGC MS-63. Tied for third finest certified of the date with seven other examples on the NGC population report, only two finer (MS 64 & MS 65). A sharply struck and highly lustrous survivor exhibiting semi-reflective surfaces that highlight the frosty devices. Attractive delicate tone in the peripheries accentuate the intricate design elements giving the high grade minor a very pleasing appearance worthy of a premium bid. Despite an enormous mintage this date was withdrawn from circulation and destroyed with an unknown amount still outstanding. This action is the primary reason why it is such a difficult date to locate in high grade." This type was struck for the kingdom of Bulgaria in 1912-16. Altho the 1916 is rare, the other dates are common. The 1916 fifty stotinki and two leva issues were also withdrawn and melted.
Recorded mintage: 4,569,000 but nearly all melted.
Specification: 5 g, 0.835 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM 31.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach and Warren Tucker, Heritage World Coin Auction 3064, featuring the Doug Robins Collection of Canadian Tokens, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2018.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The January 2021 NYINC Sale: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Oro del Nuevo Mundo and Matt Orsini Collections, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2020.
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