Image: Wikimedia Commons · Facquis · CC BY-SA 4.0
Austrian Lombardy-Veneto Lira
Italy
1816–1866
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Estimated Melt Value
$14.88
Based on Silver spot price ($79.72/oz) · 90.0% purity · 6.45g
Updated 8:52 AM
Collector premium not included
Specifications
| Country | Italy |
| Years Minted | 1816–1866 |
| Composition | 0.900 silver |
| Weight | 6.45 g |
| Diameter | 24 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Reeded |
Design
Obverse
The obverse features the bust of the Austrian emperor.
Reverse
The reverse depicts the denomination and date within a wreath.
History & Notable Facts
The Austrian Lombardy-Veneto lira bore the Habsburg double-headed eagle on its obverse, a stark imperial emblem imposed on a region that spoke Italian, not German.
This silver coin, minted from 1816 to 1866 in Milan and Venice, typically weighed around 12 grams with a fineness of .900, adapting the French-inspired lira system to Austrian standards. Rulers like Franz Joseph appeared on later issues, their portraits a reminder of occupation's grip. Edge inscriptions varied, sometimes including dates or mottos in Latin, which added a layer of formality to everyday commerce.
We don't know exact mintage numbers for most years; archives suffered from the era's upheavals. As for myths about hidden treasures, I've handled enough to say they're mostly nonsense—coins like this were currency, not relics.
Some collectors quip that these lira switched allegiances faster than the borders did.
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