Tuscany 1853 1/2 paolo
The first specimen was lot 71145 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Santa Ana, CA, May 2018), where it sold for $100. The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY. Tuscany. 1/2 Paolo, 1853. NGC MS-62. Sharply struck and brilliant." The second specimen was lot 23202 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Philadelphia, August 2018), where it sold for $192. The catalog description[2] noted, "ITALY. Tuscany. 1/2 Paolo, 1853. NGC MS-64. A superior example of this scarce five year type with design elements that are fully sharp and rich tone that concentrates around the outer edges." This type is listed for 1853 and 1856-59. These obscure little Italian states coins don't catalog for much but are very difficult to find. The mezzo paolo was one twentieth of a francescone, the Tuscan equivalent of a piastra. In the 1850's, Tuscany was ruled by a Hapsburg prince, Leopold II.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 1.37 g, .920 fine silver.
Catalog reference: Mont-366, KM C68a.
- 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]Ponterio, Richard, Kyle Ponterio and Chris Chatigny, The May 2018 Collector's Choice Sale, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2018.
- [2]Ponterio, Richard, Kyle Ponterio and Chris Chatigny, The August 2018 Philadelphia ANA Auction: World Coins and Selections from the El Dorado Collection of Colombian Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2018.
Link to: