Romania 1930-H 5 lei
This specimen was lot 75617 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, September 2023), where it sold for $144. The catalog description[1] noted, "ROMANIA. 5 Lei, 1930-H. Birmingham (Heaton) Mint. Michael. PCGS MS-64. KM-48. Viridescent surfaces display an attractive azure tint at certain angles, the reverse slightly more understated and satiny. Endowed with generous natural beauty, this is a simply outstanding example of the issue that should be considered for the finest and most comprehensive Romanian cabinets." King Mihai ruled 1927-30, 1940-47. This issue was accompanied by a similar nickel brass ten (KM 49) and twenty lei (KM 50). Romania fell into the Nazi orbit during World War Two and the monarchy was abolished shortly thereafter. For those readers who dislike sesquipedalian words, we note that viridescent is "adj., Having a greenish hue; becoming somewhat green in color".
Recorded mintage: 15,000,000 (Heaton) + 15,000,000 (KN) + 30,000,000 (Paris).
Specification: 3.5 g, nickel brass, 21 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-Y19a.1; Bit-151.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, September 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction - Ancient & World Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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