Vatican City 2004-R 50 euro

from the Stack's Bowers June 2021 Collector's Choice sale, lot 72081

This specimen was lot 72081 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2021), where it sold for $600. The catalog description^[1] noted, "ITALY. Vatican City. 50 Euros, 2004-R Year XXVI. Rome Mint. NGC PROOF-69 Ultra Cameo. Presenting incredibly frosted devices with a delightful matte nature, this Gem that verges upon perfection features the judgment of Solomon along with the half-length bust of the pontiff, John Paul II. Includes original certificate with specifications." This denomination was used for NCLT's in 2002 and later for pope Benedict. It accompanied a gold twenty euro.

Recorded mintage: 3,050.

Specification: 15 g, 0.917 fine gold, 28 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: Fr-442; KM-364.

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.
• Gigante, Fabio, Gigante 2016: Catalogo Nazionale delle Monete Italiano Dal '700 All'Euro, 24a ed. Varese, Italy, 2015.
• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 2001-Date, 13th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2018.
• 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:

• 2003-R 50 euro, The Ten Commandments
• 2004-R 20 euro, David slaying Goliath
• 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