Naples and Sicily 1833 3 tornesi
This specimen was lot 72061 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2021), where it sold for $660. The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY. Naples & Sicily (as the Two Sicilies). 3 Tornese, 1833. Ferdinand II. PCGS AU-58 Gold Shield. A VERY RARE denomination that is seldom encountered, this piece is even more appealing on account of its wholesome, high grade, with a good deal of underlying brilliance remaining. A great opportunity for a very difficult coin." The SCWC notes that 240 tornesi = 6 tari = one piastra, where a piastra is roughly equal to a peso. This coin was worth 1/80 of a piastra; this type was struck 1833-38. The Bourbon dynasty, rulers of Naples since 1735, were evicted by Napoleon to make room for his brother Joseph in 1806 but returned in 1815.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 9.35 g, copper, 27 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-321.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Fabrizi, Davide, Monete Italiane Regionale: Napoli, Pavia: Edizioni Numismatica Varesi, 2010.
- 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.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The June 2021 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
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