Genoa 1797 96 lire
The first specimen was lot 1656 in SINCONA Auction 97 (Zürich, May 2025), where it sold for 1,800 CHF (about US$2,611 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALIEN Genua, Dogi Biennali, 1528-1797. 96 Lire 1797, Genova. Fast sehr schön. Leicht berieben und Schrötlingsfehler. (Italy, republic of Genoa, biennial doges, 1528-1797, 96 lire of 1797, Genoa mint. About Very Fine, Slightly polished and flan flaw.)"
The second specimen was lot 42541 in Stack's Bowers Summer 2026 Global Showcase Auction (Pittsburgh, September 2026), where it sold for $2,928. The catalog description[2] noted, "ITALY. Genoa. 96 Lire, 1797. Genoa Mint. PCGS Genuine--Cleaned, EF Details. Despite the noticed cleaning, this example maintains nice details and is yet presentable despite the flaws." The republic of Genoa issued silver one, two, four and eight lire and gold 12, 24, 48 and 96 lire 1793-97 in its final years before occupation and annexation by the French. Genoa never recovered its independence; in 1815 it was annexed by the kingdom of Sardinia and is now part of Italy.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specifications: 25.21 g, 0.909 fine gold, 33 mm diameter, the first specimen 25.05 g.
Catalog reference: KM 251, Mont. 29 (R2), MIR 275/5 (R), Fr-444.
- 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, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Montenegro, Eupremio, Montenegro 2015: Manuale del Collezionista di Monete Italiane, 30 ed., Torino, Italy: Montenegro s.a.s., 2014.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 97: World and Swiss Coins and Medals, SINCONA Bullion Auction, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2025.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, Summer 2026 Global Showcase Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2026.
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