Italy 1811-M 20 lire
This specimen was lot 2032 in Sincona sale 25 (Zürich, October 2015), where it sold for 12,000 CHF (about US$14,823 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Napoleone I. 1805-1814 20 Lire 1811. Milan Head of the Emperor to l., date and Mmk. M for Milan below. Rev. Arms on crowned mantle. Value below. Of highest rarity in this quality. Proof. Brilliant uncirculated (NGC PF61 Cameo). Cabinet piece."
This coin was struck in Milan for Napoleon's kingdom of Italy which lasted 1804-1814. The twenty lire piece matched the French twenty francs and was struck in limited numbers 1808-14. Its larger sister, the forty lire piece, is much more often encountered. The silver five lire was struck in Milan, Venice and Bologna.
Recorded mintage: 55,000.
Specification: 6.45 g, 0.900 fine gold, .186 troy oz AGW, this specimen 6.45 g.
Catalog reference: Pagani 21. Fr-7, KM 11.
- 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.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, Ruedi Kunzmann and Arne Kirsch, Numismatic Rarities, Auction 25, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2015.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
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