Mantua 1848-GM fiorino
This specimen was lot 2237 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2017), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted, "AUSTRIA. Siege of Mantua. Fiorino, 1848. NGC MS-61. RARE. Struck during the First Italian War of Independence by the Commander of the garrison of Mantua General Karl Gorzkowski while the city was under siege by Piedmontese forces from April to July of 1848. From a mintage of only 3,947 pieces of which it must be assumed the survival rate of was rather low particularly in the state of preservation seen here. Lightly struck, as many war time issues tend to be, on highly lustrous silver which has retained quite a high flash over the years. Some light adjustment marks can be seen on the reverse but aside from that free of any detracting marks or overt signs of handling. The devices have toned a nice gray with time. A specimen sure to attract collectors of many disciplines as it can find a place in a collection of Austrian, Italian or siege coinage." The aforementioned siege was unsuccessful for the Italians and the Piedmontese were forced to withdraw, causing the king to abdicate and forestalling the unification of Italy for another thirteen years. This piece was worth three lira or half a scudo, both familiar denominations in the kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia. While this siege was going on, republicans in Venice issued this five lire (Dav-206).
Recorded mintage: 3,947.
Specification: 14.04-14.06 g, .833 silver, 30 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-281 (under Mantua); Maillet-pl. LXXIX #9; MIR-774; Gig-5; Mont-428.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- 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.
- Veselý, Roman, Mince a medaile, 19. století, František II ab Karel I, Prague: Aurea Numismatika, 2020.
- Korchnak, Lawrence C., Siege Coins of the World, 1453-1902, Lancaster, PA: Classical Numismatic Group, 2021.
- Montenegro, Eupremio, Montenegro 2015: Manuale del Collezionista di Monete Italiane, 30 ed., Torino, Italy: Montenegro s.a.s., 2014.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, The January 2017 NYINC Sale: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Richard Stuart Collection, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2016.
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