rare lira coins italian

Lira Coin: Rarest Lira Coins in Circulation

Do you own some Lira Coins? Have you found some forgotten lira coin pieces inside an old purse, drawer or piggy bank and you think they could have a value? The value that the old lira coins may have (those that are classified as rare lira pieces) may astonish you!

rare lira coins italian

How to recognise rare lira coins?

Among the old Lira coins, there are small treasures hidden that are highly coveted by collectors. There are many more valuable Italian coins that have been valued at tens of thousands of euros than you might think!

The rare lire with the highest value are those that were minted during the 1950s.

Desired by collectors and highly sought-after, these rare coinage lire are of great value, especially if they have been preserved with the utmost care.

But it is not so easy to recognise them, it takes an expert eye! It is not only a matter of aesthetics, but also the year of minting, the material used, the historical period, possible minting errors and above all the state of preservation of the coin itself.

In the next few lines there will be examples of rare coins that everyone might also find in some old pocket.

How much are this coins worth?

The value of these coins can be very high. We have talked about the 1-Lira coin, the 5-Lira coin, the 10-Lira coin, the 20-Lira coin, the 100-Lira coin, the 200-Lira coin, the telephone tokens, the 500-Lira silver coin, the 500-Lira bimetallic coin and the 500-Lira banknote. You can find all these coins for sale at auction in this page and you can have the chance to win them.

1 lira “Arancia” 1947 – Italian Rare Coin

A Lira with the woman adorned with spikes on one side and the Orange branch with fruit on the other side of the coin. A little money of the value of 1 lira that today could be worth a small fortune.

1 lira "Arancia" 1947 - Italian Rare Coin
1 lira “Arancia” 1947

Value of 1 Lira “Arancia” 1947

One specimen of Orange Lira of 1947 with FDC conservation status can be worth 1.500€.

If you have similar coins or some other piece you want to sell individually or in lots, you can rely on the partner we always use to buy or sell coins online: click here to open his site. (registration and item listing are free).


2 lire 1947 “Spiga” – Value of this Italian Rare Piece Coins

This is another italian coin, this time a 2 lire coin, but still from 1947, which is worth a lot of money.

2 lire 1947 "Spiga" - Value of this Italian Rare Piece Coins
2 lire 1947 “Spiga” – Value of this Italian Rare Piece Coins

Value of 2 Lira “Spiga” 1947

A 2 Lire Spiga coin of 1947 R2 in FDC was bought at an auction for 1.800€.


5 lira 1946 “grape” – Value of this Italian Rare Piece Coins

rare lira coins with grape
Lira Coin with “Grape”

The 5 lira 1946 was the first 5 lire coin minted by the Italian Republic. This Italian coin is easily recognizable because it is depicted a bunch of grapes. On the obverse there is the profile of a woman with torch. Composed by Italma, the first 5 “rare” lira have a size of 26.7 mm in diameter and weigh 2.5 grams.

In 1946 was minted the first trial coin (PROVA coin). These coins can be recognized because they have the inscription PROVA near the bunch of grapes on the reverse. These coins, despite the particularity that makes them desirable, are not collectible. The same year began to be put into circulation those that today could be worth a small fortune.

Value of 5 Lira Coin 1946

  • These coins are lire of quite high value. If the conditions are excellent, the 5 lira of 1946 and 1947 may have a value of over 1200 €.
  • The pieces coined in different years could instead have a respectable value , that is about 50 euro.

5 lire 1954 “Dolphin” – Rare Coins for Numismatist

5-Lire-dolphin-italian-coin
A 1966 (not 56) piece of Italian Lira Coin with the Dolphin

These rare coins were composed of italma and had a diameter of about 2 centimeters and 1 gram weigh. The coins were produced From the year 1951 until 2001. On the rights have the design of the dolphin and on the reverse side a rudder.

The coins minted from 1951 to 1955 have a value of about 8€ because they havebeen minted in large quantities. Even the 5 lire of 1954 have a similar value. The 5 lire peice that has a bit more value are those of 1951 that bear the inscription “prova” under the dolphin. Since in 1956 only 400 thousand coins of 5 liras were minted, so the value of this coin is very high.

The 5 lire of 1956 have a value that reaches almost 2000€. The coinage of the Italian 5 lire was interrupted in 1957 for 8 years. In 1966-67 the production was resumed and the pieces of that year can be worth around 5€.

The Value of The coins of following years have no greater value than 2€. The 5 lire 1954 do not have a value comparable to that of 10 lire 1954 which we will discuss now.


10 Lire 1954, 1955, 1947 – Rare Coins for Numismatist

10 Lire Italian Coin 1954

These are the 10 Lira that have remained in the hearts of many Italians! We have dedicated an article to deepen the history of the 10 Lire, but these are certainly among the rarest. Everyone will have heard of the 10 Lire Olivo or the 10 Lire Spiga (ear of corn), what not everyone knows is their current value and rarity. Let’s look together at the value of some vintages.

VALUE OF 10 lire 1954 – 1955 – 1947

  • Among the rare lira coins, the 10 Lira of 1954 (Spiga) certainly have a place of honour. They are 10 Lira coins that have a discreet value even if they are relatively common, their value is around 70-90€.
  • The 10 lire of 1955 (Spiga) are the most common and therefore the least valuable. The value of these coins is around 20€ per example in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, i.e. only if of excellent quality and without scratches.
  • The 10 Lira 1947 (Olive) are highly sought after by collectors, because they are very rare and classified as R3. The value of these rare 10 lire can reach over 4,000€.

Now, if you have rare coins like these (but also different rarer coins), you can have fun and earn some money by auctioning them online. We always buy and sell coins at auction using this partner site. It is the largest online coin auction site and we really recommend it. Both selling and buying coins at auction is easy and exciting.


20 lire of 1956 – Italian Rare Lira Coins

20 lire of 1956 - Italian Rare Lira Coins
20 lire of 1956 – Italian Rare Lira Coins

The first minting is from 1956 and for the following ones the same design has always been maintained. Only the material and the edge of the coin was different and of two types, smooth and striped. The minting of that year was withdrawn and melted for reasons unknown to most people and is therefore not collectible.

Value of 20 Lira Coin 1957

  • A part of these coins of value, the 20 lire of 1956 marked with the writing “prova”, was distributed among the employees of the mint, today it can be worth more than 300€.
  • The 20 lire of 1968 instead, considered however rare lire, are valued if in excellent conditions about 80€.
  • The “PROVA” coin of 1968 is worth 800€.

50 lire of 1956 – Vulcano

This rare coin depicts on the reverse side Vulcan naked beating metal to the anvil, while on the obverse side of the coin there is the crowned head of oak and the inscription Repvublica Italiana.

50 lire of 1956 – Vulcano

Value of 50 Lire 1956 Vulcano

  • In BB conditions this coin can be worth from 20€ to 50€.
  • For FDC (Fior di Conio) specimens the 50 lire of 1956 arrive at a price that starts from 90€ up to 110€.

50 lire of 1958 – Rare Coins for Numismatist

Italian rare 50 lire piece 1958

The coinage of Italian 50 lire coins has seen as many as five different types of coins marketed and no commemorative coins. Of all these types and years, (the minting started in 1954 and ended in 2001) the rarest lira piece and therefore the lira coin of greater value is that of year 1958. Even if more than 800 thousand pieces were produced, they are very rare.

VALUE OF 50 lire del 1958

Each 50 lire coin with a date lower than or equal to 1960 can be worth from 50€ to over 800€. The 50 liras of 1958, if in perfect condition, have a value of almost 2000 euro.


100 Lire 1955 – Value of Italian rare coins

rare lire coins for numismatist Italian 100 Lire piece 1968
Italian 100 lire coin 1968

The first 100 lire coin dates back to 1955. Under FDC (mint) conditions a rare piece of that year can be worth around 1000€. If  in excellent condition the value is 120€. In this case the lira piece of greater value are those of the first years of minting, with variations due to the quantity of the production produced.

Value of 100 Lire 1955

The rare italian coin of 100 lire of 1956 have a value ranging from 20 to 150€. A 100 lire piece from the year 1957 to 1961 have a value that can reach 600€. The coins from 1962 to 1963 are worth from 100 to 200 € and a piece of 100 lira coins from 1964 to 1967 can be worth about 50€.

Those pieces from 1968 to 1989 have a maximum value of 3 €. The subsequent ones have no value other than that one of year 1972 which has a lack of coinage that could increase its price.


200 lire 1977 – Value of Italian rare coins

The PROVA version of the 200 Lire of 1977 is the one that currently has more value among the 200 Lira. The circulation was limited, therefore to today it results a difficult coin to find. Difficult but not impossible.

The 200 lire of 1978 instead present an error to half moon under the neck that makes them particular. We talked a lot about it, as well as all the other 200 lira coins, in this page: “200 rare italian lira – Discover the value of the 200 italian lira“.

Value of 200 Lire 1977/1978

  • A sample of 200 lire PROVA1977 in FDC quality may cost as much as 800€.
  • A coin of 200 lire of 1978 with Crescent Moon instead can be worth 90€ in BDC

Other Rare and Valuable Lira Coins

There are many different rare lira pieces, in addition to those mentioned in this article so far. All of the following pieces can have a value from 5, 10, 20, 50, 100€ to 500€

Phone token 1927 STIPEL

Phone token 1927 STIPEL

It is not a lira, but it is as if it was! Its value between 1959 and 1984 changed a lot until it stabilized at 200 Lira until 2001, when the token came out and the euro came into force.

Value of Italian Phone token 1927 STIPEL

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

The 500 Lira Silver of 1957 – Another Italian rare and valuable coins

rare lire coins for numismatist Italian 500Lire with caravels
This particolar 500 lire silver are very rare.

About 500 lire silver coin of 1957 we have spoken in another article (this: 500 lire silver coin). This is one of the best example of collectible coin of great value, having been produced with very small print runs and also having some peculiarities in the engravings.

Value and quotation of 500 Italian Lira Silver Coin

These rare lire coins exceed the value of the other lira coins and reach stratospheric figures with prices of up to 15.000 euro but remember that it is only the coins of 1957 with the minting error of the flag on the contrary that have this value.

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

50 thoughts on “Lira Coin: Rarest Lira Coins in Circulation”

  1. Greetings from South Africa.

    I have 2 x 5 francs 1971 and 1973
    3 x l.100 1968, 1978 and 1979
    7x l.50 1959, 1967, 1973, 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1984
    1x l.500 1982
    1x 200 lore 1988

    I was just wondering of these had any value. All the coins are in immaculate condition. Thanking you kindly in advance

  2. chrisdyna00@outlook.com

    My 100 lire 1956 coin is stamped upside down. When flipped over
    I find no metion of that any where

  3. I have a 1922 1923 king Vittorio Emanuele III 100 lire silver coin, one sold in 2014 for 31000 euro

  4. JOHN BOURQUE III

    I have an 1866 coin, name on front of coin is VITTORIO EMANUELE II RE , D ITALIA. Back side of coin has a star on top of coin and number 10 cen in the middle of the coin? coin Dated1866 with an N on bottom of the coin.
    I’m looking for the value of the coin.

    thank you!
    regards john bourque

  5. you can check by yourself looking at our articles on the website or with this ebook here:
    link removed
    that you can buy on amazon ( there are all the coins values within)

  6. Hi there i have multiple coins in pretty good condition L.100 1956/1957/1963/1973/1975/1978/1979/1980. I was wondering if they are worth anything they are apart of my mixed coin collection and wanted to see if they are worth anything? Thanks

  7. Hi! That is a rare one, only 400K pieces. The value could be from 100€ to over 2K. I would suggest to go to a numismatic fair and show the coin to some expert. Usually, they will tell you without charge for it.

  8. Greetings from Canada! I have found a 1956 5 lire. I would say it’s condition is fine. Would it be worth getting it graded? No way will I ever part with this. Thank you

  9. Hello i have a 100l from year 1956 how much it coast now because i wanna sell it and she is in good condition

  10. You just need to be sure that your coin is (or isnt) the one with the minting error of the sails. If it is not it only has the value of the metal.

  11. first one could be a nice coin, common but interensting, value depends of its conservation and quality. Second one dnt remember, I have to check it up.

  12. Hello, I believe I have the 1957 500 lire silver coin it has the 3 ships and everything, my grandma and grandpa used to live in Italy and they saved all the coins. I would like to know any distinct features I should be looking for. I must also add the coin is very tarnished so I can’t really make out a lot, But I do not want to chemically treat it due to risk of damage so what should I actually do with it?

  13. Hello I have a 1955 L.50 R coin in very good shape , and a 1956 L.50 in very good shape any value?
    Also a 1963 R L.100 coin and a 100,000 Lira coin year 1999, any value ?

  14. Hola , tengo muchas monedas antiguas y de mucho valor para vender.,pensaba ser coleccionista , pero ya no y las quiero vender, aparte tengo de tengo de las 5 emisiones de Argentina, 1884 a la fecha, muy buen estado,

  15. sergio valente

    hello good morning I have 2 coins of 100 Lire from 1955 and 1 coin of 10 Lire from 1949 . Can you help me with theyr values ? Thankyou

  16. I suggest you to go here:
    https://en.moneterare.net/coin-auction-online/
    Click over any coin and then, when you are in the auction website, start looking at the coins that are actually on auction. If you see a coin like yours you can have an idea of the bid. I think if u put it on auction you could set a reserve price also. good luck

  17. Hai I have L 100 R 1874 1974 GUGLIELMO MARCONI Coin may I know the value of coin

  18. difficult to tell. It could be a coin mistake or just due hard use to a long circulation period.

  19. I am not a numismatist. I have assorted Lira coins from 1940 onwards in good condition. One is a 50 lira coin, year 1976 but with the number 1 (in the year) totally missing. Are there any other coins like this? T.38

  20. they can have a good value if quality SPL or above. Expecially the 100L. From 20 to 300€ from catalogue prices, you can look up the 100L here: “link removed”

  21. Samuel v. Soriano jr.

    I have 2 coin 1956 L50, 1coin 1957 L100 and 1coin 1967 L50, in good condition, how much they worth?

  22. Chandra sekhar Karanam

    I have 5 lira 1911 excellent condition. Can i put it in auction
    Anticipated maximum bid?

  23. I have l100 1979 and LIRE 200 1978 ,i have also L100 GUGLIELMO MARCONI 1874-1974. How much is the value of those coins of mine..thanks and morepower.

  24. Hello! I need an L50 Italian coin by Christmas! I saw one on your website . Please contact me.Thank you!!

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