Tuscany 1822 lira
This specimen was lot 2766 in Goldberg sale 109 (Los Angeles, January 2019), where it sold for $660. The catalog description[1] noted, "Italian States: Tuscany. Lira, 1822. Ferdinando III, restored. Head right. Reverse: Value within wreath. Beautiful olive-green toning with lustrous reflective fields. NGC graded MS-64." This type is listed for 1821-23. These obscure little Italian states coins don't catalog for much but are very difficult to find. The Tuscan lira was one seventh of a francescone, the Tuscan equivalent of a piastra, whereas the Sardinian lira was equal to a French franc (5 g, .900 fine silver).
Recorded mintage: 23,010.
Specification: 4.08 g, 0.917 fine silver, 22 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: Gig-47, KM-C57; Pagani-73.
- [1]Goldberg, Ira, Larry Goldberg, John Lavender, Yifu Che, Jason Villareal and Stephen Harvey, Goldberg Sale 109: the Pre-Long Beach Auction, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 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.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
Link to: