Serbia 1868 10 para
This specimen was lot 74587 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, February 2023), where it sold for $336. The catalog description[1] noted, "SERBIA. 10 Para, 1868. Vienna Mint. Obrenovich Michael III. NGC MS-62 Brown. Quite elusive in Mint State, this example displays a refined strike and glossy milk chocolate surfaces." Altho the para is a Turkish denomination (forty para made a kurush), when Serbia commenced coinage in 1868, French modules were used, with the dinar equal to the French franc. One, five and ten para were struck in bronze; other denominations were added later. The quantity made was likely more than the country could absorb and no more were struck until 1879, by which time Milan had succeeded Michael III.
Recorded mintage: 6,590,000 with medal alignment plus more with coin alignment.
Specification: 10 g, bronze, 30 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-3.
- 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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