San Marino 1898-R 2 lire
This specimen was lot 73147 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2021), where it sold for $264. The catalog description[1] noted, "SAN MARINO. 2 Lire, 1898-R. Rome Mint. PCGS MS-65 Gold Shield. One-year type. Cartwheel toning is seen throughout with a light toning. Tied for the second finest certified at PCGS. A seldom auctioned minor, let alone in this Gem state." This type was struck in Rome for the tiny republic of San Marino in 1898. The mintage is low but enough were saved as souvenirs so the type is available in lightly circulated condition. The weight and fineness matches that of a contemporary Italian two lire and French two francs.
Recorded Mintage: 10,000.
Specification: 10 g, 0.835 fine silver, 27 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-5.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- 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]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The June 2021 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
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