Italy 20 and 100 Lire (Fakes are possible) 1923

These coins were issued on the first anniversary of Italy's fascist government. The bundle of rods with an axe is called a fasces, and is a symbol of strength and power, used since Roman times. American 'Mercury' dimes have a fasces on the back.

Both the 20 and 100 lire coins are quite rare. Figure a value equal to the bullion value of gold in the coin, plus a collector premium. Collector premium is the amount over and above the bullion value that a collector is willing to pay to add a coin to his or her collection. We give estimates of collector premium for these two coins below. Here are the stats for these coins:

20 LIRE: 21 mm diameter, 6.45 grams, 0.187 troy ounces gold
100 LIRE: 34 mm diameter, 32.3 grams, 0.933 troy ounces gold

As an example, suppose gold is selling at $1400 US dollars per ounce, the bullion value (BV) of a 20 lire coin is 0.187 x 1400 = $260. Not too shabby! Look up the current value of gold on kitco.com. It changes every day. Do a similar calculation if you have a 100 lire piece: 0.933 x 1400 = $1306, BV for 100 lire.

Since both the 20 and 100 lire coins are rare, the collector premiums are substantial for genuine coins:

20 LIRE:
worn: BV + $100
average circulated: BV + $200
well preserved: BV + $500
fully uncirculated: BV + $2000

100 LIRE:
worn: BV + $500
average circulated: BV + $700
well preserved: BV + $1200
fully uncirculated: BV + $6000

NEVER CLEAN A COIN. CLEANING RUINS VALUE.

Due to rarity, one must be careful of counterfeits. If you have doubts that the coin is truly genuine, then it is probably a fake. Check the weight in grams, as given above.

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