Italy 1809-M 40 lire
This specimen was lot 1859 in Jean Elsen sale 154 (Brussels, March 2023), where it sold for €700 (about US$906 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALIE, Royaume, Napoléon Ier (1804-1814), AV 40 lire, 1809 M, Milan. presque Très Beau. (kingdom of Italy, Napoleon, 1804-14, gold forty lire of 1809, Milan mint. About Very Fine.)"
This coin was struck in Milan for Napoleon's kingdom of Italy which lasted 1804-1814. The forty lire piece matched the French forty francs and was struck in some numbers 1807-14. Its smaller sister, the twenty lire piece, is much scarcer. The silver five lire was struck in Milan, Venice and Bologna. The date 1808 comes in three varieties: without mintmark, with incuse lettered edge and with raised lettered edge.
Recorded mintage: 38,000.
Specification: 12.90 g, 0.900 fine gold, lettered edge, 26 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM 12, M. 195; G. 74; Fr-5.
- 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, 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]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 154, Trouvaille de Labuissière, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2023.
Link to: