1882R Italy 20 Gold Lire NGC MS 64 PL Rome - Umberto I

 1882R Italy 20 Gold Lire NGC MS 64 PL Rome - Umberto I

The Italian 20 Lire Umberto I gold coin is a superb example of 19th-century European gold coinage. Umberto Ranieri Carlo Emanuele Giovanni Maria Ferdinando Eugenio of Savoy was born in March 1844 in Turin, Italy. He was son to Victor Emmanuel II and Archduchess Adelaide of Austria. Receiving a high level of education throughout his youth, he entered the Sardinian army at the rank of Captain. During his military campaign he fought in the Italian Wars of Independence, including commanding several battles. Upon the death of his father in 1878, Umberto I rose to the thrown of King, which he remained in power of until his death by assassination in 1900 at the age of 56. Prior to Umberto I ascending the throne in 1878, Italian coinage was struck throughout the country in Genoa, Milan, Rome, and Turin. After this time, all coins, including the Umberto I 20 Lire, were minted in Rome.

Lire were introduced as early as 1758 in Genoa, and were eventually also issued by a number of other states including Sardinia. Lira was the name chosen for the new coinage of the kingdom starting in 1861. The most readily available of the modern Italian gold coins are the 20 Lire of Victor Emanuel II and Umberto I. Due to inflation, the coins from 1931 are of smaller sizes.

The obverse features the bust of King Umberto I facing left. On the left side of Umberto I around the coin features his name 'UMBERTO I'. On the right side of the coin reads 'RE D'ITALIA'. Below the bust of Umberto I is the year "1882" of mintage with the name of the engraver in the neck-cut. The reverse features the Italian crowned coat of arms encircled by a wreath made by a branch of laurel and one of oak. Up the crowned shield is the Star of Italy. On the left side is the letter 'L' for Lire. On the right side is the coin's denomination "20". The Mintmark is below the wreath, to the left. The coin was graded by NGC as a mint state 64, a sharp, attractive, nearly perfect strike and with few blemishes. Although this coin is not a proof, NGC has labeled it PL (or Proof Like), which indicates a degree of reflectivity evident in the coin’s field.

Like all of our other gold coins, this one is guaranteed to be 100% authentic. Item will be wrapped and packaged safe for delivery.

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