Vatican City 2004-R 20 euro

from the Stack's Bowers June 2021 Collector's Choice sale, lot 72082

This specimen was lot 72082 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2021), where it sold for $360. The catalog description^[1] noted, "ITALY. Vatican City. 20 Euros, 2004-R Year XXVI. Rome Mint. NGC PROOF-69 Ultra Cameo. Featuring David slaying Goliath, this nearly-flawless example--with deeply mirrored fields and frosted devices--emanates from the penultimate year in the life and papacy of John Paul II. Includes original certificate with specifications." This denomination was used for NCLT's in 2002, 2003 and later for pope Benedict. It accompanied a gold fifty euro.

Recorded mintage: 3,050.

Specification: 6 g, 0.917 fine gold, 21 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: Fr-443; KM-363.

Source:

• 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.
• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th 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]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The June 2021 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.

Link to:

• 2004-R 50 euro, judgement of Solomon
• 2005-R 20 euro, on the sacrament of baptism
• 2005-R 50 euro, John baptising Christ
• 2007-R 20 euro, the Eucharist
• Coins and currency dated 2004