Lombardy-Venetia 1856-M lira
This specimen was lot 3344 in Sincona Auction 101 (Zürich, October 2025), where it sold for 1,300 CHF (about US$1,959 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"RDR / ÖSTERREICH Franz Joseph I. 1848-1916. Lira 1856 M, Milano. Sehr selten. Fast vorzüglich. (empire of Austria, Francis Joseph I, 1848-1916, lira of 1856, Milan mint. Very rare, About Extremely Fine.)"
Austrian control of Lombardy and Venetia, restored to them at the Congress of Vienna, was severely shaken by the rebellion of 1848, which coincided with revolution in Germany and another uprising in Hungary. Austria ceded Lombardy to the king of Sardinia in 1859 and left Venetia in 1866. This type was struck at Milan 1853-58.
Recorded mintage: unknown but scarce.
Specification: 4.33 g, 0.900 fine silver, this specimen 4.23 g.
Catalog reference: KM C37.2, Herinek 707. Mont. 454 (R4). Pagani 230.
- Gigante, Fabio, Gigante 2016: Catalogo Nazionale delle Monete Italiano Dal '700 All'Euro, 24a ed. Varese, Italy, 2015.
- Herinek, Gerhard, Austria Münzkatalog: Munzen ab 1745 und Banknoten ab 1759, 49. Auflage, Vienna: Christine Steyrer Verlag, 2022.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Montenegro, Eupremio, Montenegro 2015: Manuale del Collezionista di Monete Italiane, 30 ed., Torino, Italy: Montenegro s.a.s., 2014.
- Veselý, Roman, Mince a medaile, 19. století, František II ab Karel I, Prague: Aurea Numismatika, 2020.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 101: World Coins, Medals and Banknotes, Swiss Confederate Coins, Medals and Banknotes, Shooting Coins and Medals, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2025.
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