Papal States

[bart]

I show here some Papal States coins in the name of Pius IX. These coins were issued in the last years of existence of the Papal states as an independent nation. The pope was already forced to change the currency into the decimal lira. At that moment he had already lost most of his territory to the new state Italy.

I show 1 soldo (with the mentioning it is equal to 5 centesimi), 10 soldi (P.M.) and 10 soldi (PON. MAX.), 1 lira (small effigy, ugly condition, but I am already glad I own one), 1 lira (large effigy) and 2 lire.

Bart

[bart]

Here come the larger denominations.

[Figleaf]

Great series, Bart. That soldo is magnificent! I am still looking for the 2 lire at a price I can afford.

You are right that this series shows how Italian unification was preceded by money harmonization. There are similar, harmonized series of Emilia, Sardinia (see also this thread) and of course Tuscany, all dated around 1859-1860. The Sardinia and Tuscany series are relatively easy, but Emilia is a hard nut to crack.

Peter