These gold coins were produced across Italy at various mints and feature the portrait of either Umberto I or Victor Emmanuel II on each coin minted that year.
On the reverse side is Italy’s Coat of Arms; an elegant but straightforward depiction that includes its national seal topped by a crown on a crossed shield and flanked by olive and oak branches.
Weight
Modern gold lira coins come in various sizes and purity levels, including the 20 lira coin which weighs 6.615 grams and is popular with investors and collectors looking to diversify their world coin portfolios. On its reverse, this bullion coin depicts Italy’s first King, Victor Emmanuel II who became monarch until his death in 1878; later issued between late 1878 and 1900 with King Umberto I who established an alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy before being assassinated on July 10, 1900.
On the reverse of these coins is depicted the coat of arms for Italy’s Kingdom. This simple rendition includes its national seal topped with a crown on a crossed shield and olive and oak branches surrounding it, alongside the face value and face value of each coin. These Lira coins aligned with gold coin denominations from France, Switzerland and Belgium for gold content and purity within Latin Monetary Union.
Purity
Purity is of paramount importance when purchasing gold coins as either currency or investment pieces, such as Canadian maple leaves and Australian kangaroos. Modern pure gold coins such as these typically are made of at least 0.999 fine gold (24 karat).
Lower-purity gold coins can add variety to your collection, but you must take precautions against counterfeits and impurities. Hallmark checks, magnet tests, density tests and acid tests are reliable ways of verifying their authenticity and purity.
These 20 Lira gold coins are remarkable pieces of history, representing the birth of a new European nation during the late 1800s. On one side is an image of Victor Emanuel or Umberto I as King at the time of minting; their historical charm makes these collectibles attractive to collectors; as their limited production and historic status makes them costlier than spot prices.
Circulation
The Lira was Italy’s currency between 1861 and 1927 and these gold bullion coins remain sought-after today by collectors and investors. Each coin contains one fifth of an ounce (.1867 Troy oz). On its reverse is displayed its reigning monarch with all others from France, Switzerland and Belgium within Latin Monetary Union aligning gold content and purity levels accordingly.
Coins were produced at various mints throughout Italy to mark Italy’s coming together as one country and kingdom. Early designs featured Victor Emmanuel II as its first unifying ruler until his death in late 1878; by 1900 the obverse featured Umberto I who formed the Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary before being assassinated later that summer.
Design
Gold coins, like Italy’s 20 Lira coin, hold great historical interest for collectors and investors alike. These historic pieces commemorate Italy’s unification into one monarchy and kingdom only recently; these gold coins feature portraits of each king on their obverse; Umberto I became the first King featured on these coins upon ascending to power in 1878 as Duke of Savoy before ascending the throne in 1878 – until his assassination by anarchists in 1900.
On its reverse, each Italian gold coin displays the coat of arms of its kingdom: this simple depiction shows off their national seal topped by a crown on a crossed shield surrounded by olive and oak branches, along with olive and oak branch borders and their denomination number. Similar in weight and dimensions to their French and Swiss counterparts in Latin Monetary Union, Italian coins may hold significant numismatic premiums over time.
