Papal States 1853-R 5 baiocchi KM-1356
This specimen was lot 32573 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, May 2024), where it sold for $504. The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY. Papal (States of the Church). 5 Baiocchi, 1853 Year VII-R. Rome Mint. Pius IX. PCGS MS-64 Red. A beautiful Mint State minor, this charming example is fully mint red, and is alive with an electric and glowing luster. Escaping the often seen handling and marking, this piece provides a nice change of pace." This type, struck 1850-54 at Rome and Bologna, is not rare but seldom turns up in this quality. The regnal date was updated mid-year on the anniversary of the reign of the pope, hence both "Anno VII" and "Anno VIII" are mentioned for 1853. One hundred baiocchi made a scudo. This denomination is known in silver for 1835-66 and in copper for 1849-54. The coinage was reformed to use centesimi and lire in 1867 but the Papal States were annexed by Italy in 1870 and the series ended.
Recorded mintage: 8,428,000.
Specification: 37 g, copper.
Catalog reference: KM-1356, Ber-3322.
- Berman, Allen G., Papal Coins, South Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1991.
- 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, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, May 2024 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.
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