Vatican City 1996-R 100000 lire
This specimen was lot 2464 in Jean Elsen sale 160 (Brussels, November 2024), where it sold for €950 (about US$1,203 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALIE, VATICAN, Jean-Paul II (1978-2005), (Karol Wojtyla), 100000 lire, 1996. Basilique Saint-Jean de Latran. Flan poli. (Italy, Vatican City, John Paul II, 1978-2005, 100,000 lire of 1996, for the basilica of St. John Lateran. Proof.)"
Coins are issued for the Vatican City in symbolic amounts but as they are eagerly saved as souvenirs by tourists, they are not in short supply for collectors. The lira was retired in 1999 when Italy joined the euro. This NCLT was accompanied by a 50,000 lire (KM 356).
Recorded mintage: 6,000.
Specification: 15 g, 0.917 fine gold, 28 mm diameter, this specimen 15,03 g.
Catalog reference: KM 357, M. 5; Fr-426.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- 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, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 160, Collection de deniers liegeois et Collection de monnaies d'or francaises, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2024.
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