Italy 1937-R 20 lire
This specimen was lot 42485 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted, "Spectacular Crown with Great Rarity, ITALY. 20 Lire, 1937-R Year XV (of Fascism). Rome Mint. Vittorio Emanuele III. NGC MS-62. Issued in a stunningly low number, this tremendous specimen is absolutely a KEY to any 20th century crown collection, or to those of Vittorio Emanuele III more narrowly. Delightfully gray and with some hints of iridescence and brilliance in the fields, it displays the elegant Neoclassical flair that Italian coinage offered during this period. A great RARITY, and one that should generate an inordinate degree of enthusiasm." 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 1937 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. It was heavier than its predecessor but since it did not circulate, its module was not important.
Recorded mintage: 50.
Specification: 20 g, 0.800 fine silver.
Catalog reference: Dav-147; KM-81.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- 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, August 2024 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, featuring The Emilio M. Ortiz Collection, The Richard Margolis Collection and The Rutherford Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.
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