Rare Italian Lira Coins

Among the old Lire coins, there are small treasures highly sought after by collectors. These precious coins are far more numerous than you might think. The value of the coins we will discuss can reach prices, in specific numismatic auctions, of tens of thousands of euros!

You should also know that the rare lire with the highest value are often those minted during the 1950s. Desired by collectors and highly sought after, these rare lire have great value, especially if they have been preserved with the utmost care.

However, it is not so easy to recognize rare Italian coins, nor to make an accurate assessment of their value; it requires a trained eye! It is not just a matter of the appearance or type of a coin; for a correct evaluation, one must consider the year of minting, the material used, the historical period, any minting errors, and especially the condition of the coin itself. These are some of the factors used in coin valuation.

In the following lines, you will see examples of rare lire coins that, in theory, anyone could find by chance in some old pocket or in the drawers of old houses or attics. We wish you luck in this!

Note: We have talked about the 1 lira, 5 lire, 10 lire, 20 lire, 100 lire, 200 lire, telephone tokens, 500 lire in silver, 500 lire bimetallic, and the 500 lire in paper. All these rare Italian coins can be found for sale at auction on this page, and you may have the chance to win them.

The first coin is the 1 Lira Orange from 1947. This is a Lira featuring a woman adorned with ears of wheat on the reverse and an orange branch with fruit on the obverse of the coin. A small coin that once had a value of 1 lira but today could be worth a small fortune. Besides the 1947 coin, you can check all the other years in the article dedicated to 1 Lira coins.

VALUE | Rare 1 Lira Orange

• A specimen of 1947 Orange Lira in BU (Brilliant Uncirculated) condition can be worth €1,500

Remember that you can discover all the curiosities about the 1 Lira coin including the value, mintage, and rarity of each coin on this dedicated page: 1 Lira

Another interesting coin, this time 2 lire, but still from the year 1947. We have specifically discussed the 2 lire on the 2 Lire page, where you can see the value tables year by year along with the mintages, curiosities, and current evaluation prices.

VALUE | 2 Lire Spiga 1947

• A 2 Lire Spiga coin from 1947, with a rarity of R2 and in BU condition, was sold at auction for €1,800

The 5 lire 1946 was the first 5 lire coin minted by the Italian Republic. This Italian coin is easily recognizable because it features a bunch of grapes on the reverse side. On the obverse, there is a profile of a woman holding a torch. Made from a material called Italma, the first “rare” 5 lire coins measure 26.7 millimeters in diameter and weigh 2.5 grams.

In 1946, the first trial coin was minted, which can be recognized by the inscription PROVA near the bunch of grapes on the reverse. Despite the uniqueness that makes them desirable, these coins are not collectible. The same year, coins that today could be worth a small fortune began to circulate, thus rightfully entering the list of rare Italian coins.

VALUE | 5 lire 1946 UVA

• These grape lire can indeed reach a rather high value depending on their condition. If the condition is excellent, the 5 lire from 1946 and 1947 can be valued at over 1,200 €.
• Other years, however, have a more than respectable value, estimated at around 50 € per piece. Read more about the 5 lire on this page.

The rare 5 Lire Delfino were minted using a material called “Italma”, have a diameter of about 2 centimeters and a weight of 1 gram. From 1951 until 2001, these coins were produced, featuring a depiction of a dolphin on the obverse and a steering wheel on the reverse. Generally, they are not valuable coins, but the valuation of coins from particular years and in certain conditions can be significant. You can read about the characteristics, values, and curiosities of all the years of minting here: 5 Lire Repubblica Italiana.

5 lire Delfino of 1954 value – 1955 – 1957

• The coins minted from 1951 to 1955 have a value of about €8 as they were minted in large quantities.
• The 5 lire of 1954 have a value around €15 for those in BU quality.
• The most valuable 5 lire are those from 1951 that have the word “prova” under the dolphin.
• In 1956, only 400,000 coins of 5 lire were minted, which is why the value of these coins is very high, over €2,000 for those in BU.
• The minting of the 5 lire Italian coins was interrupted in 1957 for 8 years. Between 1966/1967, production resumed and the specimens from these two years can be worth about €5.

The coins from the years following 1967 do not have a value exceeding €2. The 5 lire 1954 do not have a value comparable to that of the 10 lire 1954, which we will discuss now.

What you see in the image above are the 10 lire that have remained in the hearts of many Italians! We have dedicated an article to delve into the history of 10 Lire, but these are certainly among the rarest. Everyone has heard of the “10 Lire Olivo” or the “10 Lire Spiga”; what not everyone knows is their current value, the selling price, and their rarity. Let's take a look at the value of some years.

VALUE | 10 lire 1954 – 1955 – 1947

• Among the rare lira coins, the 10 Lire of 1954 (Spiga) certainly holds a place of honor. They are 10 lire that have a decent value even though they are relatively common, their value is around 70-90€ if in excellent condition.
• The 10 Lire of 1955 (Spiga) are the most common and therefore have a lower value. The value of these coins is around 20€ per piece in Uncirculated condition, so only if of excellent quality and without signs of wear.
• The 10 Lire of 1947 (Olivo) are highly sought after by collectors, as they are decidedly rare and classified as R3. The value of these rare 10 lire can even exceed 4,000€.

But it doesn't end here; if you want to truly discover everything about the 10 lire coins (including the gold ones), check out the dedicated page of 10 lire.

The first minting of the 20 lire is from 1956 and the same design was maintained for the subsequent issues. Only the material and the edge of the coin were different, with two types: smooth and ribbed. The minting of that year was withdrawn and melted for unknown reasons and is therefore not collectible. You can find all these coins with their value on the page of the Italian coin catalog dedicated to the 20 Lire of the Italian Republic.

VALUE | 20 lire of 1956

• A portion of these valuable coins, the 20 lire of 1956 marked with the inscription “proof”, was distributed among the staff of the mint, and today it can be worth more than 300€
• The 20 lire of 1968, considered rare lira coins, are valued at around 80€ if in excellent condition
• The “proof” coin of 1968 is worth a stunning 800€

Among rare coins, this is one of the icons of rare Italian coins. It depicts on the reverse the God Vulcan naked striking the anvil with a heroic pose of nudity. On the obverse of the coin, there is the crowned oak head and the inscription “Repvblic Italiana”.

VALUE | 50 Lire 1956 Vulcano

• In VF condition, this coin can be worth between €20 and €50
• For BU (Brilliant Uncirculated) specimens, the 50 lire of 1956 reach a valuation starting from €90 up to €110

The minting of 50 lire Italian coins has seen the release of 5 different types of coins and no commemorative coins. Of all these types and years (the minting started in 1954 and ended in 2001), the rarest lira and therefore the one with the highest value is that of 1958. Although over 800 thousand specimens were actually produced, they are considered very rare. You can find this information and much more on the page dedicated to 50 Lire coins of the Italian Republic.

VALUE | 50 lire of 1958

• Each 50 lire coin that bears a date of 1960 or earlier can be worth from €50 to over €800
• The 50 lire of 1958 are coins of significant value because, if in perfect condition, they have a valuation of almost €2,000

The first minting of the 100 lire dates back to 1955. The higher value lira coins are those from the early years of minting, with variations due to the quantity of the mintage produced. Since these coins are very interesting, you can read the article dedicated to them: 100 Lire Repubblica Italiana.

VALUE | 100 Lire 1955

• The value of the rare lira coins from 1955, in BU condition, can tend around €1000. If kept in VF condition, the value is €120
• The rare 100 lire from 1956 have a value ranging from €20 to €150
• The 100 lire from 1957 to 1961 can have a value of up to €600 (depending on the year)
• The coins from 1962 to 1963 are worth from €100 to €200
• The 100 lire from 1964 to 1967 can be worth around €50
• Those from 1968 to 1989 have a maximum value of €3
• The subsequent ones have no value except for the 1972 coin which has a minting defect that could increase its value

The Proof version of the two hundred lire from 1977 is currently the most valuable among all 200 Lire coins. Can you see the word “PROVA” in the image? The mintage was limited, making it a difficult coin to find today. Difficult but not impossible, and this makes it one of the most sought-after lire by collectors.

The two hundred lire from 1978, on the other hand, features a crescent error under the neck, which makes them special. We have discussed this extensively, as well as all the other 200 lire coins, on this page: 200 rare lire – Discover the value of Italian 200 lire.

VALUE | Rare 200 Lire 1977 / 1978

• The value of 200 lire proof 1977 coins in BU condition can reach up to €800
• A 200 lire coin from 1978 with a Crescent can be sold for a price of €90 in BU

It’s not a lira, but it’s as if it were! Its value fluctuated significantly between 1959 and 1984 until it stabilized at 200 Lire until 2001, the year the token was phased out and the Euro came into effect. If you want to see its value, read below, but if you want to discover all telephone tokens, then check the dedicated page: telephone tokens.

VALUE | Telephone Token

• 1927 STIPEL Token is worth 85€ if kept in perfect condition

Now let's see what value the 500 Lire in Silver with the Caravels can reach as the ultimate example of collectible Italian coins of great value. This is a rare coin that still sparks discussion for its peculiarities and characteristics that make it truly unique and clearly one of the most sought-after lire by collectors.

We have discussed the 500 lire d’argento of 1957 at length because, among numismatic enthusiasts, they are one of the highest examples of beauty and curiosity. Specifically, you can find all the 500 lire d'argento in this article: 500 Lire d'Argento.

VALUE | 500 Lire Silver Coins of 1957

• These particular rare 500 lire exceed the value of all other lire coins; in fact, they can truly reach astronomical figures with quotes up to €15,000.

The most valuable rare lire include the 50 Lire 1958, the 100 Lire 1955, and the 500 Lire in silver. Some of these coins can be worth over €2,000.

Rare lire are distinguished by year of minting, condition, and limited mintage. Check the details on the coin and compare them with the official quotes in our catalogs. Or

Didn't find what you were looking for? Check out these topics on lire:

• Here you can learn everything about the 1 lira, from 2 lire, 5 lire, rare 10 lire, 20 lire, and 50 lire.
• The 10 centesimi of lira are here, the 20 centesimi here, and here are the rare 50 centesimi of lira.
• If you are looking for the 1 centesimo of lira, look here and here for the rare 2 centesimi of lira and the 5 centesimi of lira.
• If you want info on the 100 lire and their value, you can find it here as well as that of the 1000 Lire of the Italian Republic.
• We have covered the 200 lire and their value here.
• We talked about the Telephone Tokens that were worth 200 lire on this page.
• We also discussed the 500 lire d'argento, the 500 lire bimetallic, and the 500 lire paper
  
• For German-speaking collectors, we have created a dedicated version of the catalog of rare coins found here “MoneteRare Deutschland”.