5 Lire Coins | Value of The Italian 5 Lira Coins

The 5 Lire coins are not one of the best-known Italian lira coins, but they are undoubtedly one of those that have marked the history of the country.

Introduction to 5 lire coins

This coin was first minted in 1807 and has accompanied Italian history through the decades, including the First and Second World Wars, until its last revival in 1951.

It is also important to point out that there were different materials that characterised this coin, making each “edition” different from the previous one.

We are talking about materials such as silver, of course, but also ‘italma‘, an alloy of aluminium and magnesium.

What we are interested in understanding and analysing, however, are the characteristics of rare 5 Lire coins. These coins are in fact hard to find pieces that have unique distinguishing features that allow them to be distinguished from traditional coins.

Of course, by virtue of their particularity, they can very often have a very interesting and higher value than the market.

Specifically, we will deal with different types of rare 5-Lira coins but also specimens with manufacturing defects or particular signs, analysing their value, state of preservation and interesting aspects.

Let’s see what they are.

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5 Lire Vittorio Emanuele II

There are three 5 Lire Vittorio Emanuele II coins and they can all be considered rare, some of them are even classified as R4.

• First Type: The 5 Lira Vittorio Emanuele II Unification of Italy (Unità d’Italia)
• Second Type: The 5 Lire Vittorio Emanuele II Coat of Arms (Stemma)
• 5 Lira Vittorio Emanuele II GOLD Coat of Arms (Stemma d’Oro)

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5 Lire Vittorio Emanuele II Unità d’Italia

We begin by describing the coin of the First Type, the 5 Lire Vittorio Emanuele II Unità d’Italia, minted in 1861 and classified as a R2 rare coin.

Made of 900 silver, 37 mm in diameter and weighing 25 g.

The coin’s obverse depicts the profile of King Victor Emmanuel II facing to the right, under the neck is the signature of the author L. Gori F. followed by the symbol of the director of the Florence Mint, Marquis Liugi Ridolfi, a stylised mountain with a bandage. The inscription VITTORIO EMANUELE II – RE D’ITALIA is inscribed in a semi-circle at the top of the coin, with an indented bead along the edge.

The reverse of the same coin bears the Savoy coat of arms with the royal crown, surrounded by the Collar of the Annunciation and two laurel branches joined at the base by a draped bow. The upper part of the coin bears the inscription CINQUE LIRE ITALIANE in a semicircle, while the lower part shows the mint FIRENZE, the beam horizontally and the date of issue MARZO 1861.

The contour features the inscription FERT three times, alternating with rosettes and Savoy knots.

Value of the 5 Lire coin Vittorio Emanuele II Unità d’Italia

• The 5 Lire Vittorio Emanuele II Unità d’Italia are the first Commemorative coins of the Italian Kingdom, minted to commemorate the Kingdom of Italy, have a very high value and are graded R2.

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5 Lire Vittorio Emanuele II Stemma

The coin of the Second Type is the 5 Lire Vittorio Emanuele II Coat of Arms, minted from 1861 to 1878. The mint may be:

• Milan M (In italics)
• Napoli N (In italics)
• Rome R ( In block letters without monograms)
• Torin T (In italics)

The coin is made of 900 silver, the diameter is 37 millimetres and the weight 25 grams.

On the obverse is the portrait of Victor Emmanuel II seen in profile looking to the right. Underneath, along the line of the neck, is the signature of the engraver FERRARIS. At the top of the coin, along the beaded edge, is the inscription VITTORIO EMANUELE II and at the bottom the year of mintage.

The reverse features the Crowned Coat of Arms of the Savoy family, surrounded by the Collar of the Annunciation and the two laurel branches framing the coat of arms. To the right and left is engraved the inscription REGNO D’ITALIA, at the bottom the face value of L – 5 preceded by the letter of the Mint and followed by the initials of the Banca Nazionale BN.

On the other hand, the contour shows the inscription FERT three times, alternating with rosettes and Savoy knots.

Value of the 5 Lire Vittorio Emanuele II Stemma coin

• The 5 Lira Vittorio Emanuele II Coat of Arms can boast many rare coins, including R, R2, R3 and R4. They can be worth as much as €22,000 in some cases.

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5 Lire Vittorio Emanuele II Stemma ORO

In 1863 and 1865 the 5 Lira Victor Emmanuel II GOLD Coat of Arms was minted, made in 900 gold, with a striped edge, a diameter of 17 mm and a weight of 1.61 g. The 5 Lire Victor Emmanuel II GOLD coat of arms was minted in 1863 and 1865. Originally minted to replace the 5 Lira shield in silver, however, it was not made due to new agreements of the Latin Monetary Convention.

The obverse depicts the profile of King Victor Emmanuel II facing to the left, with the engraver FERRARIS’ signature below the neck line. In the centre of the lower part of the coin is the minting date and around the coin the inscription VITTORIO EMANUELE II.

The reverse features the central Savoia Coat of Arms wrapped in two laurel branches and the Collar of the Annunciation. At the bottom the value L – 5, the mint mark and that of the Banca Nazionale BN.

The outline is ridged.

Value of 5 Lire Vittorio Emanuele II Stemma ORO

• Here is the value table for the 5 Lire Vittorio Emanuele II Stemma ORO coin, minted in 1863 and 1865. It is worth from 200€ to 1,200€.

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5 Lire Umberto I

The 5 Lire Umberto I coins were minted in 1878 and 1879 by the Rome R mint. They weigh 25 g, have a diameter of 37 mm and are made of 900 silver.

The obverse shows the profile portrait of King Umberto I, facing right, with the inscription UMBERTO I RE D’ITALIA around it. Under the neck is the signature of SPERANZA the engraver, and the minting year. The line of the border is perpendicular.

The reverse is very similar to that of the 3 italian lira of Victor Emmanuel II, in fact it has in the centre the Savoy coat of arms crowned with the Collar of the Annunciation, all framed by a laurel branch on the left and an oak branch on the right, joined by a bow in the centre followed by the Rome mint symbol R. On the left is the letter L and on the right 5.

The incuse border of the Umberto I Lira has the inscription FERT repeated three times, alternating with rosettes and Savoy knots.

Value of 5 Lire Umberto I Coins

• Here is the table with the value of the 5 Lire Umberto I First Type and Second Type. The rare coin is the First Type, its value can reach 15,000€ if in Brilliant Uncirculated.

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5 Lire Vittorio Emanuele III

The 5 Lire Vittorio Emanuele II coins were minted from 1901 to 1941 and are:

• 5 Lire Vittorio Emanuele III Aquila Sabauda (Savoy eagle)
• 5 Lire Vittorio Emanuele III Cinquantenario (Fiftieth anniversary)
• 5 Lire Vittorio Emanuele III Quadriga Briosa
• 5 Lire Vittorio Emanuele III Aquilotto (Eagle)
• 5 Lire Vittorio Emanuele III Italia Feconda

These include many rare coins, some graded as R, others even R4, i.e. extremely rare coins.

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5 Lire Vittorio Emanuele III Aquila Sabauda

These are the 5 Lire Vittorio Emanuele III Aquila Sabauda (Savoy Eagle), minted in 1901 and classified as rare coins R4, very few examples were minted, just over one hundred.

Weighing 25 grams, 37 millimetres in diameter and in Silver 835.

On the obverse face is engraved the profile of King Victor Emmanuel III facing right, below the portrait is the engraver’s signature SPERANZA, on the left the inscription VITTORIO, on the right EMANUELE III. A beaded border along the edge.

On the reverse side is engraved the Savoy Eagle with crown and open wings, in the centre of the breast the Savoy Coat of Arms. To the upper right and left is the inscription REGNO D’ITALIA. At the bottom centre of the coin between the two Savoy knots the inscription ∞ L – 5 ☆ R ☆ 1901 ∞. Around the perlinato.

The outline is inscribed FERT three times, alternating with rosettes and Savoy knots.

Value of 5 Lire Vittorio Emanuele III Aquila Sabauda Coin

The 5 Lire Vittorio Emanuele III Aquila Sabauda of the First Type is a rare coin among the rarest! Its value in FDC is 110.000€, if the state of preservation is MB, Very Beautiful, the value drops to 15.000€.

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5 Lire Vittorio Emanuele III Cinquantenario

The 5 Lire Vittorio Emanuele III Cinquantenario was minted in Silver 900 in 1911 and is classified as a rare R coin. The diameter is 37 mm and the weight 25 grams.

On the obverse there is the profile of King Victor Emmanuel III facing left, around him the inscription VITTORIO EMANVELE III RE D’ ITALIA. Below the neck line there are the signatures of the authors D. TRENTACOSTE and L. GIORGI INC. The rim is beaded.

The reverse shows a female representation of Italy in front of a helmeted warrior on a pedestal, a figure symbolising Rome. In the background there is a steamship with the Savoy Shield on the prow, on the left a plough, all decorated with festoons and garlands. Also on the left are the dates 1861-1911 and on the right L – 5 with the Rome mint symbol R underneath.

The contour shows in incuse the inscription FERT three times alternating with rosettes and Savoy knots.

Value of the 5 Lire Vittorio Emanuele III Cinquantenario

5 Lire Vittorio Emanuele III Quadriga Briosa

The 5 Lire 1914 coin, the 5 Lire Vittorio Emanuele III Quadriga Briosa is without any doubt one of the most beautiful coins ever made anywhere in the world from a purely artistic point of view, which makes it one of the most sought-after. Minted only in 1914 and classified as a R2 rare coin. This coin was minted by King Victor Emmanuel III with great care and attention to detail.

The diameter is 37 mm while the weight is 25 grams and made of Silver 900.

The coin’s obverse depicts a semi-bust in uniform of Victor Emmanuel III facing right with the Collar of the Annunciation and the signature of the author D. CALANDRA at the bottom right. The reverse represents Italy personified, holding an olive branch, the symbol of peace, on a chariot with horses adorned with flowers.

The outline, on the other hand, bears the inscription: FERT three times alternating with rosettes and Savoy knots.

Since, as mentioned, this is one of the most beautiful coins, there are many fakes in circulation, especially in the 1970s and 1980s. In order to recognise these imitations, one usually has to pay attention to the details of the reliefs, which are much more confused in the fakes than in the originals.

In any case, numerous different imitations have circulated and therefore it is right to seek the advice of a numismatic expert who can offer a professional opinion.

Value of 5 Lire Vittorio Emanuele III Quadriga Briosa

As we have been able to see, the 5 Lire 1914 coin, although not one of the rarest, as its mintage was not exactly low, is one of the most sought-after because it is aesthetically very beautiful.

Its value can vary greatly depending on its state of preservation, which is a parameter that should always be taken into account.

• For FDC (Brilliant Uncirculated) or qFDC (Near Brilliant Uncirculated) coins the price is around €13,000 due to their excellent condition.
• For SPL (Splendido) and BB (Bellissimo) coins, i.e. with very little signs of wear, the price falls between €6,000 and €7,000.
• However, the version PROVA of the 5 Lire 1914 Vittorio Emanuele III Quadriga Briosa may be worth up to 15,000€.

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5 Lire Vittorio Emanuele III Aquilotto

The 5 Lire Vittorio Emanuele III Aquilotto issued from 1926 to 1935.

On the obverse, the reason why this 5-Lira coin is called “Aquilotto”.

As for the obverse, the subject is Victor Emmanuel II, King of Italy, in profile and facing left, with the names of the author and engraver G. ROMAGNOLI and A. MOTTI at the bottom. All around is engraved the inscription VITTORIO – EMANUELE – III – RE – D’ITALIA -.

The reverse depicts an eagle with wings slightly outstretched, holding between its legs a horizontal Littoral Beam with an axe. Slightly lower and in the centre is the value of the coin L – 5, while on the left-hand side information such as the thousandth and the mint mark R.

The Outline: FERT three times alternating with rosettes and Savoy knots.

We are talking about a coin of which there are many variants that have made it highly sought after over the years. In particular, as far as the edge of the coins dated 1927, 1928 and 1929 is concerned, there are two variants: one has two consecutive rosettes while the other has only one.

In any case, we are talking about a fairly rare coin, as only 50 coins per year were minted between 1931 and 1935, exclusively for collectors.

These specimens are classifiable as R3.

Value of 5 Lire Vittorio Emanuele III Aquilotto

• The 5 Lire coins minted between 1931 and 1935 are highly sought after by collectors and numismatists. Their value, with an excellent state of preservation, can reach a few thousand euros, as for example the splendid R3 example of 1934 in FDC sold at auction on 13th April 2013 for €3,450.
• But there are also more affordable and still fascinating coins such as the 5 Lire 1926 FDC coin graded as R that was sold at auction on 15 February 2011 for €311.
• On the other hand, in order to get an idea of the value of common coins issued between 1927 and 1930 in a condition far below FDC or QFDC, one can refer to the current value of silver and multiply it by the weight of the coin itself.

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5 Lire Vittorio Emanuele III Italia Feconda

The 5 Lira Vittorio Emanuele III Italia Feconda was minted from 1936 to 1941, most are classified as R4 rare coins, one even R5.

The diameter is 23 mm, the weight 5 grams and the material Silver 835.

On the obverse there is the profile of King Victor Emmanuel III facing left, on his left is the inscription VITT – EM – III and on his right RE – E – IMP -.

The reverse, on the other hand, is the personification of fertile Italy seated suckling one of the two infants she holds in her arms; two other children are standing to her right and left.At the top is the inscription I T A L I A, below the value L – 5. To the left is the coat of arms of the House of Savoy with the minting year and the R for the Rome mint. To the right is the littoral beam with an axe, the year of the Fascist era and at the bottom the engraver’s signature G. ROMAGNOLI.

The contour is smooth with the inscription FERT repeated three times and alternating with rosettes and Savoy knots.

Value of 5 Lire Vittorio Emanuele III Italia Feconda Coin

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5 Lire Repubblica Italiana

The 5 Lira Italian Republic is divided into:

• 5 Lira Italian Republic Uva “Grapes”
• 5 Lira Italian Republic Delfino “Dolphin”

5 Lire Uva Italian Republic

The 5 Lira Italian Republic “Uva” was minted from 1946 to 1950 in Italma, has a diameter of 26.90 mm, weighs 2.50 g, and is 2.10 mm thick.

The obverse depicts a mulierbe head facing right with a torch in her hands. There are also the inscriptions REPVBBLICA ITALIANA and the names of the authors: G.ROMAGNOLI and P.GIAMPAOLI.

On the obverse there is a bunch of grapes, which in fact gives the coin its name. Specifically, it is inserted in the centre of the value of the coin with the mint mark of Rome R and the thousandth of a millennium underneath.

The contour is ridged.

We are talking about a coin that varies greatly in rarity according to the various editions over the years.

Value of| 5 Lire Uva

In order to establish the value of a 5 Lire Uva coin, several factors must be taken into account, which can undoubtedly make a difference.

There are two main factors in particular: the year of production as this also determines the rarity of the coin based on the number of specimens minted and the state of preservation has an important influence.

5 Lire 1950 Value

On the other hand, the 1950 5 Lira coin, also of the 5 Lira “Grape” type, is very common. It has a value of about 3€ if in good condition and can be valued up to 50€ if in perfect FDC condition.

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5 Lire Delfino – Italian Republic

5 Lire Delfino were minted from 1951 to 2001, the diameter is 20.20 mm, the weight 1 g, thickness 1.40 mm and the material is Italma. A coin which, from a purely aesthetic point of view, is very simple but at the same time decidedly striking.

The obverse depicts a rudder with the inscription REPVBBLICA ITALIANA around it and the signature of the author G. ROMAGNOLI at the bottom.

The reverse, on the other hand, is what actually gives this rare 5 Lire coin its name. It is in fact a dolphin with a slightly bent tail. Above the animal is engraved a 5 indicating the value of the coin, while to the right is the mint mark R.

As for the other rare 5 Lire coins, in order to establish the real value of a single specimen, it is necessary to analyze the year of production and especially the state of preservation. To get a much clearer idea it is good to go and evaluate the individual models.

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Value of 5 Lire 1951

The 5 Lire Delfino coin dated 1951 was minted in 40,260,000 copies and is, therefore, a coin that we could define practically common. For FDC specimens we talk about a price of €8, while for qFDC we go down to €5, which become €3 for coins in SPL condition.

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Value of 5 Lire 1952

The 5 Lire coin from 1952 has a slightly higher mintage of 57,400,000. Also in this case, therefore, we are not talking about a particularly rare coin, but it may still have an interesting value. Compared to the previous model, the value of coins in FDC condition changes to €9, while qFDC and SPL remain at €5 and €3 respectively.

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Value of 5 Lire 1953

The 5 Lire Delfino coin of 1953, on the other hand, had an even higher circulation than its predecessors, with 196,200,000 pieces minted. It is therefore an even more common coin for which the value is slightly higher.

For coins in FDC condition the price is €10, for those in qFDC condition the price drops to €6 and for those in SPL condition the value is €3.

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Value of 5 Lire 1954

In 1954, 436,400,000 5 Lire Delfino were minted. For this reason, this year’s edition is one of the most common. Specifically, the price of this coin as usual can vary depending on the state of conservation. Let’s see it together:

For FDC coins of the 5 lire 1954 the value is €15, for qFDC ones it goes down to €10 while for SPL ones it stabilises at €7.

It must be said, however, that there is also a variant of the 1954 edition which presents a very interesting peculiarity. We are talking about a coin with the engraver’s signature on the obverse at a distance of about 1 millimetre from the edge, i.e. further away from the edge than the normal coin.

Regarding this alternative version of the 5 lire 1954 which is considered uncommon, the value is €25 for FDC coins, €15 for qFDC and €6 for SPL.

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Value of 5 Lire 1955

Another very interesting coin is the 5 Lire Delfino of 1955. In this case we are talking about a less common coin with 159,000,000 pieces minted. Once again, it is important to carefully evaluate the state of preservation in order to get a clearer picture.

For FDC coins the value is in fact €8, for qFDC coins €5 and finally for SPL coins €4.

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Value of 5 Lire 1956

The 5 Lire Delfino coin of 1956 is undoubtedly one of the rarest coins with the highest value. Only 400,000 were minted, making it one of the most sought-after by collectors.

It is easy to understand that the value is also higher than in other editions. For FDC coins, in fact, the price starts at €2,100, for qFDC coins at €650, around €200 for SPL ones and finally €100 for BB ones.

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Value of 5 Lire 1989

Finally we conclude with a very interesting 5 Lire coin. The 1989 edition in fact saw the production of 2,500,000 pieces for a coin that, all things considered, is considered very common. Precisely for this reason, the value in FDC condition is €3.

What we are interested in analysing, however, is a minting error in this production. Specifically, some of these coins have an inverted rudder on the reverse and are easily catalogued as uncommon coins. The value of these specimens is €20 for the FDC condition, €10 for SPL and finally €1 for those in BB condition.

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The Thaler

Another particular coin that can have the value of 5 Lire, and that we feel we must point out, is the Thaler. It is a 5 Lire silver coin quite sought after, that we have analysed in a specific article. See also the Eritrean Thaler, a coin with a value of 5 Lire of 1890 in this page: the thaler.

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Didn’t find what you were looking for? Check out these topics about lira coins:

• Here you can find out everything about the 1 lira coin, 2 lira coin, 5 lire coin, 10 lire coins , 20 lire and 50-lira coins.
• The 10 lira cents are here, the 20 lira cents here, and the 50 lira cents here.
• If you are looking for the 1 cent lira coin, look here and here on the 2 cent rare lira and 5 cent lira.
• Look here If you want infos about the 100 Lire coins and also the value of the 1000 Lira of the Italian Republic.
• We have discussed the 200 lire coins and their value here.
• We have talked about Telephone Tokens worth 200 lire on this page.
• We also talked about the 500 silver lira coins, the 500 bimetallic lira and the 500 lire banknotes.

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