Italy 1897-R 20 lire

Sincona sale 69, lot 653

This specimen was lot 653 in Sincona sale 69 (Zurich, May 2021), where it sold for 400 CHF (about US$531 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"'ITALY | Königreich, Umberto I. 1878-1900. 20 Lire 1897 R, Roma. PCGS MS64."

This date is one of a series struck 1879-97 at the Rome mint during the reign of Umberto of Italy. It is struck to the same standard as the contemporary French twenty francs d'or and is common.

Recorded mintage: 38,333, a better date.

Specification: 6.45 g, 0.900 fine gold, 21 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: KM 21, Mont-31. Pagani 588. Fr-21.

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, 1801-1900, 9th 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]Jürg Richter, Auction 69, Gold and Silver Coins and Medals, Zurich: Sincona AG, 2021.

Link to:

• 1893 20 lire
• 1897 2 lire
• 1902 20 lire
• Coins and currency dated 1897