Italy 1870-M BN 5 lire
This specimen was lot 2455 in Sincona sale 18 (Zürich, May 2014), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted,
"5 Lire 1870. Mailand. Vorzüglich. (kingdom of Italy, Victor Emanuel II, five lire of 1870, Milan mint, extremely fine.)"
This type was struck at the Rome mint 1870-78 and at the Milan mint (shown here) 1869-75 during the reign of Victorio Emanuele II of Italy. It is struck to the same standard as the contemporary French five francs. It is quite common. The earlier dates (1870-75) are quite scarce with the Rome mintmark. The denomination was terminated in 1879 when its legal tender provision was revoked in the Latin Monetary Union. Several countries, including Italy, were striking large numbers of silver crowns (worth about three francs in bullion) and redeeming them in France for five francs in gold.
Recorded mintage: 5,969,000.
Specification: 25 g, 0.900 fine silver, this specimen 24.99 g.
Catalog reference: Pag. 490. Dav-140, KM 8.3.
- 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.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- [1]Numismatic Coins, Medals, & Banknotes: Auction 18, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2014.
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