Expert: Brad Swain - 1/14/2010

Question
I have an italian coin from 1848.It's in pretty good shape.On one side it has a woman with a staff and under her on the coin there is the letter "M". On the flip side it has a "5".under the "5" it says "lire".under that it says"italiane".Around all that there is something like a wreath.I was wondering approx.what it is worth?I'd send you a pic but I have no camera.

Answer
Hi David, if it is silver it is likely a 5 Lire from the northern Italian area of Lombardy that rebelled against Austrian rule in 1848. There were 120,000 minted that year in Milan (M) and it should weigh 25.0 grams and would contain .7234 of an ounce of silver.
Collector value may be worth about $20 with heavy wear to around $125 with moderate wear to maybe $250 with light wear. Varieties exist.
You might also try a library for a copy of the Standard Catalog of World Coins for pictures, values and lots more interesting info.
Brad