Papal States 1863-R 20 baiocchi
This specimen was lot 976 in Steve Album Auction 52 (Santa Rosa, CA, May 2025), where it sold for $168. The catalog description[1] noted, "PAPAL STATES: Pius IX, 1846-1878, AR 20 baiocchi, Rome, 1863 year XVIII, a wonderful lustrous mint state example! PCGS graded MS64. Tied with two other examples for finest known 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 1858-65. The Bologna mint participated 1858-89. A slightly revised type, KM 1320a, which was 5.33 g, 0.835 fine silver, was struck 1865-66. Another coinage reform in 1866 dropped the scudo in favor of the lira used in the rest of the kingdom of Italy.
Recorded mintage: 3,155,140 (years XVII and XVIII).
Specification: 5.71 g, 0.800 fine silver, 24.5 mm diameter, .147 troy oz ASW, reeded edge.
Catalog reference: KM-1360, Ber-3313.
- 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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