View source for Italian Somaliland 1909-R 2 bese

[[Image:It Somaliland SB1019-72387o.jpg|300px|thumb|Stack's Bowers 2019 Collector's Choice sale, lot 72387]]
[[Image:It Somaliland SB1019-72387r.jpg|300px|thumb]]

This specimen was lot 72387 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Santa Ana, CA, October 2019), where it sold for $840. The catalog description<sup>[1]</sup> noted, "[[Italian Somaliland|ITALIAN SOMALILAND]]. 2 Bese, 1909-R. NGC MS-64 Brown. An attractive near GEM survivor with lovely chocolate brown patina throughout." The region of Somalia became of strategic importance for the European powers after the construction of the Suez Canal in 1869. The British were the first to occupy the region in force, followed by the Italians in 1895 who purchased the coastline south of British Somaliland from the sultan of Zanzibar. The British took control of the region during WWII, and eventually the British and Italian possessions were unified as an independent republic (1960). [[Somalia]] has proved to be virtually ungovernable as a nation, with the former British Somaliland breaking away again in 1991 and incessant civil conflict engulfing the remainder. This scarce type was struck 1909-13 and 1921-24. One hundred bese (paisa) made a [[Italian Somaliland 1910-R rupia|rupia]] (rupee).

''Recorded mintage:'' 500,000. 

''Specification:'' bronze.

''Catalog reference:'' KM-2; Gig-22; Mont-465. 

''[[Bibliography|Source:]]''
* 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.
* <sup>[1]</sup>Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, ''The October 2019 Collector's Choice Sale: World and Ancient Coins,'' Santa Ana, CA: [http://www.stacksbowers.com Stack's Bowers LLC], 2019.

''Link to:''
* [[Italian Somaliland 1909-R besa|1909-R besa]]
* [[Italian Somaliland 1909-R 4 bese|1909-R 4 bese]]
* [[Italian Somaliland 1910-R rupia|1910-R rupia]]
* [[Coins and currency dated 1909]]

[[Category:Selections from the Stack's Bowers 2019 Collector's Choice sale]]