Italy 1903-R 2 lire
This specimen was lot 75474 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice Online Auction (Costa Mesa, CA, May 2025), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY. 2 Lire, 1903-R. Rome Mint. Vittorio Emanuelle III. PCGS F-12. A VERY RARE date that is desired in any grade, this handsome example displays even circulation and a wholesome problem free appeal." This type was struck for the kingdom of Italy 1901-07. All the dates are scarce to rare. The weight and fineness matches that of a French two francs. This denomination was struck to this standard until 1917, when the stress of wartime inflation forced the government to suspend production. When mintage of the lira resumed in 1923, it was a nickel coin. Vittorio Emanuele III succeeded his father Umberto upon the latter's assassination in 1900.
Recorded mintage: 53,622.
Specifications: 10 g, 0.835 fine silver, .268 troy oz AGW, 27 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-33.
- 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.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, May 2025 World Collectors Choice Online Auction: Ancient & World Coins, featuring selections from the Sydney F. Martin Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.
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