Lucca 1804 2 soldi
This specimen was lot 2630 in Sincona sale 77 (Zürich, May 2022), where it sold for 500 CHF (about US$607 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALY | Lucca. Elisa Bonaparte e Felice Baciocchi, 1805-1814. 2 Soldi 1804, Firenze. Probe/Prova. Portraits von Felice und Elisa Baciocchi nach rechts. FELICE ED ELISA PP. DI LUCCA E PIOMBINO. Rv. UN DECIMO DI LIRA. Im Feld in 3 Zeilen 2.SOLDI.1804. In Blei/Zink verkupfert unpubliziert. Von grosser Seltenheit. Fast sehr schön. (Italy, principality of Lucca, Elisa Bonaparte and Felix Baciocchi, 1805-14, pattern two soldi of 1804, Florence mint. Portraits right; reverse: value. Unpublished in copper-plated zinc, Of high rarity, About very fine.)"
This two soldi was struck in the duchy of Lucca while it was ruled by Elisa Bonaparte, sister of Napoleon. The type was never placed in production. The tiny state was annexed to Napoleon's empire in 1808. After his fall, the duchy was given to a relative of the king of Naples, then attached to Tuscany in 1847. It is now part of Italy.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: zinc or lead, this specimen 5.43 g.
Catalog reference: Pagani -. MIR -. KM unlisted.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 77, World Coins and Medals, Bullion Auction, Coins and Medals of Switzerland, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2022.
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