Ionian Islands 1820 2 lepta
This specimen was lot 21208 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Philadelphia, August 2018), where it sold for $480. The catalog description[1] noted, "IONIAN ISLANDS. 2 Lepta, 1820. NGC MS-64 BN. Deep brown colored with the faintest hints of original mint red around the 'NNIA' in 'BRITANNIA' on the reverse. Magnified inspection reveals evidence of die clashing on both sides. Conditionally RARE in this near-Gem grade." This type is listed for 1819-20 only and, like most of the issues of nineteenth century Greece, is scarce. Despite the substantial mintage, this type is scarce in nice condition. The Ionian Islands, long ruled by the Turks, were seized by the British from the French in 1809 and held by them until 1864, when they were united with Greece. The French issued coins for the "Septinsular Republic" in 1801 and the British issued coins intermittently in 1814, 1819-21 and 1834-62.
Recorded mintage: 9,462,000 for 1819-20.
Specification: copper.
Catalog reference: KM-31; Geo-6.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, Kyle Ponterio and Chris Chatigny, The August 2018 Philadelphia ANA Auction: World Coins and Selections from the El Dorado Collection of Colombian Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2018.
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