Parma 1815 2 lire
This specimen was lot 1855 in Sincona sale 11 (Zürich, May 2013), where it sold for 1,500 CHF (about US$1,857 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALIEN Parma Maria Luigia d'Austria, 1815-1847. 2 Lire 1815, Mailand. Kl. Kr. Vorzüglich-FDC. (duchy of Parma, Maria Luisa of Austria, 1815-47, two lire of 1815, Milan mint. Light hairlines, extremely fine to uncirculated.)"
The Duchy of Parma was a small state bordering on the Duchy of Milan. It fell to the Spanish Hapburgs in the 1500's and to the Austrian Hapsburgs in 1714 and was occupied by Napoleon in 1796. After his fall, it was granted to his wife, Maria Louisa of Austria, and was held by her until her death in 1847. It then passed to the Bourbons who ruled in Naples and then to the king of Italy in 1860. It has been part of Italy since. The Duchess issued a series of coins from a copper centesimo to a gold forty lire, of which this specimen, a silver two lire, was a part. All were struck to French standards. This type was struck in 1815 only and is very scarce.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 10 g, 0.900 fine silver; this specimen is 9.99 g.
Catalog reference: Pag. 8, KM 29.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Numismatic Coins, Medals, Banknotes & Books: Auction 11, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2013.
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