Serbia 1868 5 para
This specimen was lot 42602 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Oklahoma City, OK, August 2025), where it sold for $5,040. The catalog description[1] noted, "SERBIA. 5 Para, 1868. Vienna Mint. Mihailo Obrenovic III. PCGS PROOF-64 Red Brown. VERY RARE as a proof striking, this near-Gem dazzles with a great deal of red across its impeccable mirrored surfaces. Full of enchanting eye appeal and exceptionally alluring." 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. This date comes in coin (↑↓) and medal (↑↑) alignments with the coin alignment being rare.
Recorded mintage: 7,420,000 plus proofs.
Specification: 5 g, bronze, 25 mm diameter, plain edge.
Catalog reference: KM-2.
- 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, August 2025 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, featuring The Richard August Collection and the Richard Margolis Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.
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