Italy 1875-M BN 5 lire

Sincona sale 83, lot 2958

This specimen was lot 2958 in Sincona sale 83 (Zurich, May 2023), where it sold for 200 CHF (about US$268 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted, "ITALIEN, konigreich, Vittorio Emanuele II. 1861-1878. 5 Lire 1875 M, Milano. NGC MS61." This type was struck at the Rome mint 1870-78 and at the Milan mint 1869-75 during the reign of Victorio Emanuele II. It is struck to the same standard as the contemporary French five francs. It is quite common. The earlier dates (1870-75) are quite scarce with the Rome mintmark. The denomination was terminated in 1879 when its legal tender provision was revoked in the Latin Monetary Union. Several countries, including Italy, were striking large numbers of silver crowns (worth about three francs in bullion) and redeeming them in France for five francs in gold.

Recorded mintage: 8,982,000.

Specification: 25 g, 0.900 fine silver.

Catalog reference: KM 8.3, Mont. 184. Pag. 499. Dav-140.

Source:

• Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
• 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, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• Montenegro, Eupremio, Montenegro 2015: Manuale del Collezionista di Monete Italiane, 30 ed., Torino, Italy: Montenegro s.a.s., 2014.
• ^[1]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 83, World and Swiss Coins and Medals, Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2023.

Link to:

• 1873 5 lire
• 1875-R 5 lire
• 1875 20 lire
• 1876 5 lire
• Coins and currency dated 1875