Italy 1936-R 20 lire
This specimen was lot 607 in Classical Numismatic Group's sale of the Lissner Collection (Chicago, August 2014), where it sold for $5,445. The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY, Regno d'Italia. Vittorio Emanuele III. 1900-1946. AR 20 Lire. Commemorating the conquest of Ethiopia. Rome mint. Dually dated year 14 of the Fascist Era and 1936 R. In NGC encapsulation graded MS 64. Brilliant uncirculated with just a hint of very faint patina. Only one graded higher. Richard paid a grand total of $70 for this coin. Purchased from Joe Elliott." This type was struck for the kingdom of Italy 1936-41 but only struck for circulation in 1936. Vittorio Emanuele III succeeded his father Umberto upon the latter's assassination in 1900, but by 1931 he was the helpless tool of the Fascists. Altho this coin has a Davenport number, we regard it as too small (20 g) to be included in our list of European crowns.
Recorded mintage: 10,000.
Specification: 20 g, 0.800 fine silver, designed by Giuseppe Romagnoli; this specimen Ø35 mm, 20.04 g, 6h axis.
Catalog reference: KM 81; Mont 78, Dav-147.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th 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]Teller, M. Louis, and Victor England, Jr., The Richard Lissner Collection, Lancaster, PA: Classical Numismatic Group, 2014.
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