Papal States 1869-R 10 lire

Jean Elsen sale 123, lot 1236

This specimen was lot 1236 in Jean Elsen sale 123 (Brussels, December 2014), where it sold for €1,100 (about US$1,599 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

" ITALIE, ETATS PONTIFICAUX, Pie IX (1846-1878), (Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti), AV 10 lire, 1869, an 24, Rome. Rare. En parfait état de conservation, avec brillant original. Flan Poli. (Papal States, Pius IX (1846-78), gold ten lire of 1869, year 24, Rome mint. Rare, in perfect condition with original luster, proof.)"

This rare and expensive type was struck 1869 only to the standard of a French ten francs. The pope was enjoying his last days as an independent potentate; when French troops left in 1870, Italian troops marched in and forcibly unified Rome with the rest of the kingdom of Italy.

Recorded mintage: 5,944.

Specification: 3.225 g, 0.900 fine gold, .093 troy oz AGW.

Catalog reference: Munt-43c; Berman-3335; Fr-281, KM 1381.3.

Source:

• Berman, Allen G., Papal Coins, South Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1991.
• 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, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• Francesco Muntoni, Le Monete del Papi e Degli Stati Pontifici, 4 vols. Rome: P & P Santamaria, 1973.
• ^[1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 123, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2014.

Link to:

• 1867 10 lire
• 1869 10 soldi
• 1869 20 lire
• 1869 100 lire
• Vatican City 1940 100 lire
• Coins and currency dated 1869
• return to coins of the Papal States