Italy 1808-M 15 soldi
This specimen was lot 31605 in Heritage sale 3029 (New York, January 2014), where it sold for $1,116.25. The catalog description[1] noted, "Kingdom of Napoleon. 15 Soldi 1808-M, MS63 NGC. Well-struck details with rich cabinet patina- a lovely example of this very scarce type." The issues of the Napoleonic kingdom of Italy were meant to match the French franc Germinal. Thus, the silver lira was 5 g, 0.900 fine silver, just like the French one franc. The lira was divided into twenty soldi, so the ten soldi matched the French half franc. We don't know why a fifteen soldi was considered necessary. Nevertheless, it was issued 1808-10 and 1814 in small numbers, with this date being the most common.
Recorded mintage: 38,000.
Specification: 3.75 grams, 0.900 fine silver, .108 troy oz ASW.
Catalog reference: KM C-7; Gig-174; Mont-268.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Gigante, Fabio, Gigante 2016: Catalogo Nazionale delle Monete Italiano Dal '700 All'Euro, 24a ed. Varese, Italy, 2015.
- Montenegro, Eupremio, Montenegro 2015: Manuale del Collezionista di Monete Italiane, 30 ed., Torino, Italy: Montenegro s.a.s., 2014.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Stuart Levine and Bruce Lorich, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3029, featuring Selections from the Eric P. Newman Collection, Part III, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2013.
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