Sale: CNG 69, Lot: 2085. Estimate $300.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 8 June 2005.  Sold For $350. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ITALY, Kingdom. Vittorio Emanuele III. Æ Pattern (9.02 gm, 12h). Johnson private mint, Milan; Egidio Boninsegna, sculptor. Struck 1903. VITTORIO EMANVELE III, bust right in military uniform; EB monogram / REGNO D'ITALIA, crowned eagle on olive branches within collar of religious order; PROVA in left field, JOHNSON CA INC below. Cf. Simonetti 109 and 206; KM -. UNC, light toning. Unpublished variety. ($300)

In 1903 the Johnson private mint of Milan prepared patterns for two denominations, a silver 2 Lire and a bronze 10 Centesimi. This piece is from dies similar to the 2 Lire (Simonetti 109), but lacking the denomination and date on the reverse. It was struck on a slightly larger light-colored bronze flan prepared for the 10 Centesimi (Simonetti 206/b). The 2 Lire was 27mm in diameter, the 10 Centesimi 30mm.