Papal States
The Papal States were largely incorporated into a united Italy in 1860. In 1866, it was in negotiations to join the LMU. Those negotiations failed but the Papal States adopted the lire and the LMU denominations anyway. In 1870, France was preoccupied with its war with Prussia and withdrew its protection of Rome. A united Italy took this opportunity to annex the remainder of the Papal States, which became extinct after over 1,000 years.
The Papal States lire were all minted under Pius IX. The obverse states the year of pontifical rule (i.e., 1867 can be XXI or XXII).
The 5 lire was minted in both gold and silver. It was one of the few examples of LMU coinage where the same denomination was minted in both gold and silver (Napoleon III and Vittorio II are the only other instances)
Circulation Coins
Certain images are clickable for more detail
100 Lire
(XXI, XXIII-XXIV)
50 Lire
(XXII-XXIV)
20 Lire
(Small Bust, XX-XXI)
20 Lire
(Medium Bust, “PON”, XXII-XXIII)
20 Lire
(Large Bust, “PIVX IX PON”, XXIII-XXV)
10 Lire
(Small Bust, “PON” XXI-XXII)
10 Lire
(Medium Bust, “P.” XXIV)
10 Lire
(Small Bust, “PONT” XXI)
5 Lire
(Small Bust, XXI-XXII)
5 Lire
2 1/2 Lire
2 Lire
(Small Bust - No ornament below bust)
2 Lire
(Medium Bust)
1 Lira
(Small Bust, XX - No ornament below bust)
1 Lira
(Small Bust)
1 Lira
(Large Bust, “M” Obverse, Dots Between PON)
1 Lira
(Large Bust, “MAX” Obverse, No Dots Between PON)
10 soldi (1/2 lira)
(“PON” Obverse)
10 soldi (1/2 lira)
(“P” Obverse)
5 soldi (1/4 lira)
(XXI-XXII)
Consolidated Mintage Data (Gold)
Gold coins were minted in many denominations as it was Italy (United), which also minted a 5 and 10 lire in gold.
Mintage is low for all denominations as compared to larger nations.
| Year | 5 Lire | 10 Lire | 20 Lire | 50 Lire | 100 Lire |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1866 XX | - | 8,579 | 22,945* | - | - |
| 1867 XXI | 3,226 | 8,580 | 43,818 | - | - |
| 1867 XXII | 3,787 | 9,176 | 57,000 | - | - |
| 1868 XXII | - | - | 38,000 | - | - |
| 1868 XXIII | - | - | 112,000 | 257 | 545 |
| 1869 XXIII | - | - | 54,000 | - | 625 |
| 1869 XXIV | - | 5,944 | 76,000 | - | 450 |
| 1870 XXIV | - | - | 24,000 | 1,460 | - |
| 1870 XXV | - | - | 27,000 | - | - |
| Total | 7,013 | 32,279 | 557,707 | 2,889 | 2,737 |
Source: Numista
*For 20 Lire 1866 XX, 945 are listed as plain edge (rather than reeded)
Consolidated Mintage Data (Silver)
Placeholder / PENDING
| Year | 5 Soldi | 10 Soldi | 1 Lira | 2 Lire | 2 1/2 Lire | 5 Lire |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1866 XX | ## | ## | ## | ## | ## | ## |
| 1867 XXI | ## | ## | ## | ## | ## | ## |
| 1867 XXII | ## | ## | ## | ## | ## | ## |
| 1868 XXII | ## | ## | ## | ## | ## | ## |
| 1868 XXIII | ## | ## | ## | ## | ## | ## |
| 1869 XXIII | ## | ## | ## | ## | ## | ## |
| 1869 XXIV | ## | ## | ## | ## | ## | ## |
| 1870 XXIV | ## | ## | ## | ## | ## | ## |
| 1870 XXV | ## | ## | ## | ## | ## | ## |
| Total | ## | ## | ## | ## | ## | ## |
20 Lire Graded Population
[PENDING - Working on formatting]
| Grade | PCGS Pop | NGC Pop | Combined | PCGS Years | NGC Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS61 | ## | ## | ## | ## | ## |
| MS62 | ## | ## | ## | ## | ## |
| MS63 | ## | ## | ## | ## | ## |
| MS64 | ## | ## | ## | ## | ## |
| MS65 | ## | ## | ## | n/a | n/a |
| MS66 | ## | ## | ## | ## | |
| Total | ## | ## | ## | - | - |
| Year (PCGS/NGC) |
MS61 | MS62 | MS63 | MS64 | MS65 | MS66 | MS67 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1866 XX | 0 / 0 | 1 / 2 | 1 / 1 | 2 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 4 / 5 |
| 1866 XXI | 2 / 3 | 2 / 14 | 2 / 8 | 6 / 10 | 2 / 6 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 0 | 14 / 42 |
| 1867 XXI | 0 / 0 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 1 | 1 / 2 | 0 / 0 | 1 / 2 |
| 1867 XXII | 0 / 4 | 1 / 4 | 2 / 6 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 0 | 1 / 2 | 0 / 0 | 4 / 15 |
| 1868 XXII | 0 / 0 | 2 / 5 | 0 / 6 | 1 / 1* | 0 / 3* | 0 / 1 | 0 / 0 | 3 / 17 |
| 1868 XXIII | 1 / 1 | 1 / 4 | 2 / 6 | 3 / 5* | 1 / 1* | 0 / 2 | 0 / 0 | 8 / 18 | 1869 XXIII | 0 / 2 | 1 / 1 | 2 / 1 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 0 | 3 / 5 |
| 1869 XXIV | 0 / 2 | 1 / 2 | 2 / 3 | 1 / 5 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 7 | 0 / 2 | 4 / 21 |
| 1870 XXIV | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 4 / 5 |
| 1870 XXV | 0 / 1 | 1 / 1 | 1 / 2 | 0 / 1 | 1 / 2 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 3 / 7 |
| Total | 4 / 14 | 11 / 35 | 13 / 34 | 14 / 28 | 4 / 16 | 2 / 16 | 0 / 2 | 48 / 145 |
Source: PCGS/NGC (Compiled 10 November 2024)
* One 1868 XXIII NGC MS65 moved to 1868 XXII and one NGC MS64 1868 XXII to XXIII (both incorrectly slabbed).
< 20 Lire - Finest Examples >
1st Type (1866 XX - 1866 XXI)
[Placeholder / Pending - add note about 1866 XX Plain Edge MS64+]
1866 XX
1866 XX - NGC MS65+
(Image Aurora May 2023 / NAC Dec 2022)
1866 XXI - PCGS MS64PL
(Image: PCGS)
1866 XXI - NGC MS64PL
(Image: NGC)
1866 XXI
1866 XXI - NGC MS66
(Image: Aurora Sep 2022)
1866 XXI - PCGS MS65PL
(Crossed over to NGC MS65 Star)
(Image: Numismatica Genevensis Dec 2018)
1866 XXI - NGC MS65 Star
(Crossover from PCGS MS65PL)
(Image: Heritage Nov 2022)
1866 XXI - NGC MS65PL
(Image: NAC Dec 2022)
1866 XXI - NGC MS65+
(Image: Pegasus Jun 2024)
1866 XXI - PCGS MS65
(Image: Bolfaffi Jul 2020)
1866 XXI - NGC MS65
(Image: Aurora Mar 2024)
1866 XXI - NGC MS65
(Image: Numisor Oct 2020)
1866 XXI - NGC MS65
(Image: Unknown 1x - Added 2024)
< 20 Lire - Finest Examples >
2nd Type (1867 XXI - 1868 XXII)
[Placeholder]
1867 XXI
1867 XXI - NGC MS66 Star
(Image: Aurora Sep 2022)
1867 XXI - PCGS MS66
(Image: MDC Dec 2017)
1867 XXI - NGC MS66
(Image: Pending x1)
1867 XXI - Ungraded Stemp
(Image: Kunker Mar 2008)
1867 XXII
1867 XXI - NGC MS66
(Image: Sincona Oct 2022)
1868 XXII
1868 XXII - NGC MS66+
(Image: Nomisma Apr 2023)
1868 XXII - NGC MS65
(Image: Heritage Nov 2021)
1867 XXII - PCGS MS66
(Image: Sincona Oct 2018)
1868 XXII - NGC MS66
(Image: NAC Dec 2022)
1868 XXII - NGC MS65
(Slab Mislabeled as 1868 XXIII)
(Image: Heritage Aug 2022)
1868 XXII - NGC MS65
(Image: Unknown 1x)
< 20 Lire - Finest Examples >
3rd Type (1868 XXIII - 1870 XXV)
[Placeholder. Note about hordes.]
The 1869 XXIV is over represented in the highest grades. A single cache of these coins submitted around 2022, contained NGC MS67 x2, NGC MS66+ x1, NGC MS66 x4, and NGC MS65 x1.
1868 XXIII
1868 XXIII - NGC MS66
(Image: Unknown x2)
1868 XXIII - PCGS MS65
(Image: cgb Sep 2020)
1868 XXIII - NGC MS65
(Image: Unknown x1)
1869 XXIV
1869 XXIV - NGC MS67
(Image: MDC May 2024)
1869 XXIV - NGC MS67
(Image: Aurora Sep 2023)
1869 XXIV - NGC MS66+
(Image: Aurora Sep 2022)
1869 XXIV - NGC MS66PL
(Image: Unknown 1x)
1869 XXIV - NGC MS66
(Image: Heritage Aug 2023)
1869 XXIV - NGC MS66
(Image: Aurora May 2023)
1869 XXIV - NGC MS66
(Image: MDC April 2023)
1869 XXIV - NGC MS66
(Image: Numismatica Varesina)
1869 XXIV - NGC MS66
(Image: NGC)
1869 XXIV - NGC MS65
(Image: Aurora Mar 2023)
1870 XXIV
1870 XXIV - NGC MS65+
(Image: Unknown 1x)
1870 XXIV - Ungraded FDC
(Image: SIMA Mar 2024)
1870 XXV
1870 XXV - PCGS MS65
(Image: Unknown 1x)
1870 XXV - NGC MS65
(Image: CNG Jan 2014)
1870 XXV - NGC MS65
(Image: NGC)
Error in 20 Lire - NGC & PCGS Population Registry
The is a 20 lire variation in both the PCGS and NGC population reports that does not exist.
As shown above, the 20 lire has three busts. The small bust was used 1866 XX-1867 XXI, the medium bust 1867 XXII-1868 XXII, and the 3rd 1868 XXIII-1870 XXV.
PCGS and NGC include an 1868 XXIII with both the 2nd and 3rd type. The mistake originated in the Krause book, which states that KM#1382.3 (medium bust) includes 1868.
NGC: 1868 XXIII “PON” (Medium Bust) and “PIVS IX PON” (Large Bust)”
There is one MS examples of the NGC 1868 XXIII “PIVS IX PONS”: an MS65. The certification pictures it is actually XXII.
<< 10 Lire Finest Examples >>
[PENDING - 3 Types, 4 ‘years’]
1866 XXI: NGC MS64 x1, MS63 x1
1867 XXI:
NGC MS68 x1, MS67 x1, MS66 x1, MS65x1, MS65PL star x1
PCGS MS65 x1
(Horde added 2024)
1867 XXII: NGC MS65 x1, MS64 x3
1869 XXIV - NGC MS65x2
1st Type - “PONT.” - 1866 XXI
1866 XXI - NGC MS64
(Image: Unknown)
1866 XXI - NGC MS63
(Image: Heritage Sep 2015)
1866 XXI - Ungraded FDC
(Image: V.L. Nummus Sep 2019)
1866 XXI - Ungraded FDC
(Image: Nomisma Aste Nov 2024)
2nd Type - “PON.” - 1867 XXI
1867 XXI - NGC MS68
(Image: Unknown - Added 2024)
1867 XXI - NGC MS67
(Image: Pending - Added 2024)
1867 XXI - NGC MS66
(Image: Unknown)
1867 XXI - PCGS MS65 (Should be PL)
(Image: MDC Oct 2023)
1867 XXI - NGC MS65PL Star
(Image: Aurora Sep 2023)
1867 XXI - NGC MS65
(Image: Heritage Jul 2002)
1867 XXI - NGC MS64 Star
(Image: Nomisma Mar 2024)
2nd Type - “PON.” - 1867 XXII
1867 XXII - NGC MS65
(Image: Heritage Jan 2015)
1867 XXII - FDC
(Image: Pending)
1867 XXII - NGC MS65
(Image: CNG Jan 2014)
3rd Type - “P.” - 1869 XXIV
1869 XXIV - NGC MS65
(Image: NAC Nov 2024)
1866 XXI - Ungraded FDC
(Image: Nomisma Aug 2024)
1869 XXIV - NGC MS65
(Image: Palombo Nov 2011)
1869 XXIV - Ungraded “Proof”
(Image: Elsen Dec 2014)