Papal States 1854-R 10 baiocchi
This specimen was lot 972 in Steve Album Auction 52 (Santa Rosa, CA, May 2025), where it sold for $192. The catalog description[1] noted, "PAPAL STATES: Pius IX, 1846-1878, AR 10 baiocchi, Rome, 1854 year VIII, a wonderful lustrous beautifully toned mint state example! PCGS graded MS64. The sole finest graded example at PCGS (Top Pop)." The first coinage reform in the Papal States was implemented in the early 1830's during the reign of Gregory XVI (1831-46). All the doppie, zecchini, guili, testoni, etc., were dropped in favor of a silver scudo divided into one hundred baiocchi. This type was struck for Pius IX 1847-56. The Bologna mint participated 1847-48. The denomination was introduced in 1836 at 2.68 g, 0.900 fine, then changed to 2.85 g, 0.800 fine in 1858, then 2.66 g, 0.835 fine in 1865. Another coinage reform in 1866 dropped the scudo in favor of the lira used in the rest of the kingdom of Italy.
Recorded mintage: 5,570, a scarce date.
Specification: 2.68 g, 0.900 fine silver, 21 mm diameter, .077 troy oz ASW, reeded edge.
Catalog reference: KM-1342a, Ber-3315.
- 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.
- Francesco Muntoni, Le Monete del Papi e Degli Stati Pontifici, 4 vols. Rome: P & P Santamaria, 1973.
- [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Dustin Wagner, Auction 52, featuring the Dr. Robert A. Rosenfeld Collection and the Almer H. Orr III Collection, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2025.
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