Papal States 1866-R 10 soldi
This specimen was lot 72694 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, May 2023), where it sold for $100. The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY. Papal States. 10 Soldi, 1866-R Year XXI. Rome Mint. Pius IX. NGC MS-64. Pale argent surfaces display frosty luster throughout, while contact marks or nicks are few and far between. A stalwart piece for the grade and ideal for those who seek an example from this three year type." After centuries of using a medieval mix of doppie, zecchini, giulii, grossi, etc., the coinage was reformed in 1830 to use 100 baiocchi = one scudo. The coinage was reformed again in 1866 to use centesimi and lire. The Papal States were annexed by Italy in 1870 and the series ended. This ten soldi was one half of a lira. This type was struck 1866-68 in substantial quantities.
Recorded mintage: 290,000.
Specification: 2.50 g, 0.835 fine silver.
Catalog reference: Berman-3343, KM-1376.
- 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, February 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, featuring the David Sterling Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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