Italy. Lotto 171 Monete FDC: Italia, Grecia & Turchia —compresa variante NC 10 Lire 1998 Spighe lunghe. (No reserve price)

Lotto 171 FDC Coins: Italy, Greece & Turkey — NC Variant "Long Spikes" 10 Lire 1998
Thirty years of Lira, sealed and never touched

There are numismatic lots, and then there are collections like this: 171 coins, each still sealed in the original packaging — official Mint divisions and rolls — all in Proof condition (FDC). None of these coins has ever passed from hand to hand: they remained exactly as minted, from 1969 to 1999, on the eve of the Euro.

What makes the lot particularly interesting for the most discerning collectors is the uncommon (NC) variant "10 Lire 1998 Long Spikes": the spikes on the reverse, in this coinage variant cataloged by Italian numismatic literature, are unusually longer than in the ordinary type. A detail small in size, yet highly sought after.

What it contains, cut by cut and year by year

ITALY — 157 FDC sealed coins

1 Lira "Cornucopia": 1970

2 Lire "Olive Branch": 1970

5 Lire "Dolphin": 1970, 1971 (x7), 1972(x7), 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987 (x7), 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995 (x7), 1996, 1997, 1998

10 Lire "Spighe": 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 (x7), 1991, 1995, 1996 (x7), 1997, 1998 — NC variant "Long Spikes", 1999

20 Lire "Oak Branch": 1969, 1970(x7), 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998

50 Lire:
Italian Volcano type, large module (1954-1989): 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980
Volcano type, reduced module (1990-1995): 1992, 1993, 1995
Head of Turrita (1996-2001): 1996

100 Lire:
Minerva, 1st type (1955-1989): 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1978, 1979, 1981
Commemorative: 1974 William Marconi, 1979 FAO
Minerva, 2nd type (1990-1992): 1990, 1992
Italia Turrita, 3rd type (1993-2001): 1993

200 Lire:
Gears with toothed wheel (1977-2001): 1977, 1978, 1979, 1985, 1995, 1998
Commemoratives: 1980 Maria Montessori, 1990 Consiglio di Stato, 1993 Aeronautica Militare, 1996 Guardia di Finanza

500 Lire: 1986, 1990 (Quirinale Piazza), 1993 (Bank of Italy)

1,000 Lire "Geography", 1st type: 1997

GREECE — 8 coins: 5 Lepta 1912, 10 Lepta 1969, 20 Lepta 1969, 50 Lepta 1962, 1 Drachma 1970, 5 Drachmas 1966, 10 Drachmas 1968

Turkey — 6 coins: 1 Kuru 1969, 5 Kuru 1965, 10 Kurus 1970, 25 Kurus 1959, 1 Lira 1968, 2.5 Lira 1972

Reasons to bid on this lot
The variant that makes the difference: finding the "10 Lire 1998 Long Spikes" already included in a lot of this size, and in this condition, is not common.
Maximum preservation: original seals intact on all Italian coins mean zero handling, zero marks, zero compromises on quality.
Thirty years of monetary history in one go: from 1969 to 1999 there is basically the entire second life of the Lira, including coins and commemoratives.
A European addition that is not obvious: Netherlands, Norway, Luxembourg, Sweden and Finland widen the scope of the lot beyond Italian borders for those who love multi-country small collections.
All together, without risk: being a single, non-breakable lot, the buyer takes home the whole package — including the rare variant — without having to chase it elsewhere.
Condition
Proof (FDC) for all Italian coins, still sealed in the original packaging (official divisions/rolls). For the foreign coins, refer to the visible state in the photographs.

Things to know before bidding
The lot is unique and non-breakable: no separate sale of individual pieces.
Photographs are an integral part of the description: they should be consulted carefully before bidding.
Suitable for those who want to expand a collection of Italian Lire, or for those seeking a solid base for a late 20th-century European collection.

Shipping
Tracked and insured shipping, consistent with the numismatic nature of the lot.