Grade opinions?? Regno d'Italia 5 lire, 1814

spoon

Got this coin in recently.. I'm kinda stumped on how this would grade. Obviously it is holed and plugged. Detail-wise, how would you grade it? (lousy pics, I know!)

The reverse details are really pretty nice, while the obverse isn't bad--it's "respectably worn" One other thing that might affect grading but makes it historically more intriguing: it seems that it has seen a bit of rub by cloth--not polishing, just rub and none too bad. I kinda wonder if, with the hole, this might have hung from the jacket of some young Italian revolutionary, either with romantic dreams like those of Julien Sorel (from The Red and the Black) or an odd nationalist yearning against Austrian rule in northern Italy?

Vern, I hope I didn't snipe this one from you.. I think I'll focus on the 1848 revolutions from now on

spoon

ttt ??

laurentyvan

The wear might be VG/Fine obverse to reverse if not holed and plugged. Unless its very rare it's probably a curiosity or ideal for LordM's future coin britches (which he'll need when the holey vest and hat are filled and top-heavy).

elverno

I might have graded it a little higher for type than the soothsayer. That's because in viewing literally hundreds of these coins they are very susceptable to wear on Nap's head and along the drapery of the reverse. Without the unfortunate hole (though well repaired!) you'd have a coin in the $75-125 range I'd guess. I missed this one so, way to go! The ear is in particularly good condition and that is usually flat.

Pagini says this is a common date though many of his "common" coins are tough to find at all! It might have been holed and worn in 1814. The Italians weren't that thrilled for the most part with being returned to Austrian rule. Quite a few preferred to stay with Napoleon and his regent Eugene, if they couldn't have self-rule that is.

laurentyvan

I tend to be very conservative on grading, probably due to my relative inexperience. I will, of course, yield to wiser heads like Elverno.

spoon

Thanks for the comments!

I usually am very conservative in grading too, but I'm lost when there are devices like this reverse shield that can be sharp even in low circ conditions, unless it's a type I'm familar with.

I'm happy with the coin