Papal States 1868-R 100 lire
This specimen was lot 30378 in Heritage auction 3096 (Dallas, TX, March 2021), where it sold for $12,000. The catalog description[1] noted, "Papal States. Pius IX gold 100 Lire Anno XXIII (1868)-R MS61 NGC, Rome mint. Struck in a reported mintage of only 545 pieces, the second-lowest of this short-lived issue, produced from 1866-1869. Watery in the fields, with a noteworthy orange-gold tone that overlays the faces, creating a handsome visual allure. From the Paramount Collection." This rare and expensive type was struck 1866-69 to the standard of a French hundred francs. The pope was enjoying his last days as an independent potentate; when French troops left in 1870, Italian troops marched in and forcibly unified Rome with the rest of the kingdom of Italy.
Recorded mintage: 545.
Specification: 36.08 g, 0.917 fine gold, 1.063 troy oz ASW, reeded edge.
Catalog reference: KM 1383, Fr-278, Pag-520, Ber-3330.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- 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.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, The Paramount Collection World & Ancient Coins: Signature Auction 3096, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.
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