ITALY, Papale (Stato pontificio). Pius IX. 1846-1878. Altered AR 5 Lire (38mm, 25.04 g, 6h). Rome mint. Dually dated 1870 R and RY 24.

Electronic Auction 511
Lot: 488. Estimated: $ 75

World, Silver

Sold For $ 180. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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ITALY, Papale (Stato pontificio). Pius IX. 1846-1878. Altered AR 5 Lire (38mm, 25.04 g, 6h). Rome mint. Dually dated 1870 R and RY 24. Bust left, wearing zucchetto, mozzetta, and pallium; portrait re-engraved to depict Pius in secular Germanic garb, with side curl (Jewish payot?), and puffing on a Gesteckpfeife (German-style pipe) / Denomination and date within wreath. Muntoni 45; Berman 3337; KM 1385. For a similarly re-engraved Papal issue, see CNG E-292, lot 498. Toned. Good VF.

During the Second Italian War of Independence, as the Piedmontese and French campaigned to free northern Italy from Austrian domination, Guiseppe Garibaldi raised an army to take Rome. Though he was defeated at the battle of Aspromonte, his rallying cry of “Roma o morte!” (Rome or death) nevertheless influenced the policies of the new kingdom, which desired complete unification under a single authority. Accordingly, at the close of the war, Napoléon III retained a number of troops in Rome to protect the Pope from secular forces. The garrison was sufficient to prevent Vittorio Emanuele II from moving against the city until August 1870, when the French forces were recalled for the Franco-Prussian War. Royal forces entered the city on 20 September 1870, following ineffective resistance by the Papal Zouaves, thus ending the Risorgimento.

This and lot ____ were likely carved by a member of the French garrison, perhaps after becoming disillusioned with his posting so far from home.

Closing Date and Time: 9 March 2022 at 12:42:20 ET.

All winning bids are subject to an 18% buyer’s fee.