Italy 1903-R 20 lire
This specimen was lot 1501 in Sincona sale 38 (Zürich, May 2017), where it sold for 2,050 CHF (about US$2,459 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Vittorio Emanuele III. 1900-1946 20 Lire 1903 R. Roma 6.45 g. Selten. Nur 1800 Exemplare geprägt. Vorzüglich-FDC. Kleine Randfehler. (kingdom of Italy, Victor Emanuel III, 1900-46, twenty lire of 1903, Rome mint. Rare. Only 1800 pieces struck, Extremely fine-uncirculated, Minor edge nicks.)"
This rare type is listed for four dates (1902, 1903, 1905, 1908). It was struck to the standard of a French twenty francs d'or. Italian gold coinage was already scanty when World War One terminated it.
Recorded mintage: 1,800.
Specification: 5.59 g, .910 fine gold, this specimen 5.59 g.
Catalog reference: KM 37.1, Nomisma 1074. Mont. 45. Fr-24.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- 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]Jürg Richter, Auction 38, Gold Coins and Medals, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2017.
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