Mail Call- 1927 and 1930 Italian 5 Lire

The other night we were looking at ending soon auctions on eBay, and after our recent pour with the US constitutional coins we decided we need more Junk Silver, these caught our eye at a total price of $4.50 including shipping so we bid at the last minute and won! They maybe a little rough but considering their age not bad and you might be rough shape too at 91 years old.

We knew nothing but what we saw on the listing and a quick look on google that said silver and $2.00 melt value, when we bought them.
We have now learned that the lire was the official currency of Italy from 1861 to 2002 when it was finally replaced by the Euro. The coins were minted in Silver 1862-1941 and in Aluminum 1946-2001.
This is a Silver coin with a Fineness of 0.8350 that weighs 5 grams with an actual silver weight of 0.134229266802771oz which gives it a melt value today of about $1.91 it has a diameter of 23 mm which is the same size as a US Half Cent 1794 ~ 1857, the Two Cent coins and also a Euro.

We have now learned that the man on the coin is His Majesty King Vittorio Emanuele III{ Born on 11 November 1869 – and died 28 December 1947) He was the King of Italy!!! He reigned from 29 July 1900 until he abdicated his throne to his son Umberto II on 9 May 1946. He was the king through both world wars, In addition, He not only was the one that appointed Benito Mussolini as Prime Minister in 1922 and but he was also the one to depose him in 1943, he was the king through the rise and fall of Fascism too. In an effort to reinvigorate support for the Monarchy he abdicated his throne although, his efforts were in vain as the monarchy was abolished. He went into exile in Alexandria, Egypt where he lived the last year of his life. His remains were ultimately returned to Italy last year.

World coins are very cool and when they are silver it is even better, these maybe our first world coin purchase but it is not our last!

Thanks for reading and happy stacking!