Italy, England. Lotto 170 Monete Lire FDC: compresa variante NC 10 Lire 1998 Spighe lunghe. (No reserve price)

Lot of 170 FDC Coins: Italy & England (decimal) — 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: 170 coins, each still sealed in its original packaging — official State Mint divisional sets and rolls — and all in Prooflike (FDC) condition. None of these coins has ever changed hands: they have remained exactly as issued by the mint, from 1969 to 1999, on the cusp of the Euro.

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

What it contains, cut-by-cut and year-by-year

ITALY — 164 FDC sealed coins

1 Lira "Cornucopia": 1970

2 Lire "Olive Twig": 1970

5 Lire "Dolphin": 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972(x7) , 1973, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987(x7), 1988, 1989, 1990 (x7), 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996 (x7), 1997, 1998

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

20 Lire "Oak Branch": 1969, 1970(x7), 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998

50 Lire:
Type Volcano, large module (1954-1989): 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981
Type Volcano, small module (1990-1995): 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995
Head of Cap (1996-2001): 1996

100 Lire:
Minerva, 1st type (1955-1989): 1968, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1988
Commemorative: 1974 William Marconi, 1979 FAO, 1981 Naval Academy Livorno
Minerva, 2nd type (1990-1992): 1990, 1991, 1992
Italia Turrita, 3rd type (1993-2001): 1993

200 Lire:
Gear Wheel Dentate (1977-2001): 1977, 1978, 1979, 1985, 1991, 1995, 1998
Commemoratives: 1980 Maria Montessori, 1990 Council of State, 1993 Italian Air Force,
1996 Guardia di Finanza.

500 Lire: 1982, 1986, 1990 (Quirinal Square), 1993 (Bank of Italy)

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

England (decimal) - 6 Coins
1/2 New Penny 1971, 1 New Penny 1971, 2 New Penny 1971, 5 New Penny 1969, 10 New Penny 1968, 50 New Penny 1969.

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 something you see every day.
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 hit: from 1969 to 1999 there is practically the entire second life of the Lira, including small change and commemoratives.
An European addition that’s not taken for granted: Netherlands, Norway, Luxembourg, Sweden, and Finland broaden the lot’s scope beyond Italian borders for those who love small multi-country collections.
All together, with no risk: being a single, non-breakable lot, the buyer takes home the entire package — rare variant included — without needing to chase it elsewhere.

Condition

FDC (Prooflike) for all Italian coins, still sealed in the original packaging (official divisional sets/rolls). For the foreign coins, refer to the condition visible in the photographs. (many FDC)

Things to know before bidding
The lot is unique and non-breakable: no sales of individual pieces.
Photographs are an integral part of the description: review them carefully before bidding.
Suitable for both expanding an Italian Lira collection and for establishing a solid base for a European mid-20th-century collection.

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