Tuscany 1823 lira
This specimen was lot 72700 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, May 2023), where it sold for $336. The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY. Tuscany. Lira, 1823. Ferdinando III. PCGS MS-63. This sole finest certified specimen delivers intense eye appeal and charm, with much remaining mint glossiness throughout and a wholesome allotment of details that are supremely well preserved." This type is listed for 1821-23. These obscure little Italian states coins don't catalog for much but are very difficult to find. The Tuscan lira was one seventh of a francescone, the Tuscan equivalent of a piastra, whereas the Sardinian lira was equal to a French franc (5 g, 0.900 fine silver). Tuscany was incorporated into the united kingdom of Italy in 1859-60.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 4.08 g, 0.917 fine silver, 22 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-C57.
- 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.
- 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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