Note of the Month: Italy 1 Lira

Posted on 8/19/2025

This note shows Roman Emperor Augustus, namesake of the last month of summer.

Click images to enlarge.

Country: Italy

Catalog Number: 26

Date: 1939

Denomination: 1 Lira

Varieties: None in the PMG Population Report

What makes it special? August is named after Augustus, Rome's first emperor, who is pictured on the back of this note. The statue shown here is known as Augustus of Prima Porta, which was discovered in 1863 at the ruins of a villa in Roma that belonged to Augustus' final wife, Livia.

Did you know? Augustus of Prima Porta was sculpted in marble and currently resides in a Vatican museum. It is nearly seven feet tall and weighs more than a ton. (You can explore ancient coins that tell the story of Augustus in this NGC Ancients column.)

Total graded by PMG: As of mid-August 2025, the PMG Population Report includes 35 examples of Pick# 26.

PMG median grade: PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated EPQ

PMG highest graded: Three examples are graded PMG 67 Superb Gem Uncirculated EPQ.

Sales highlights: Uncertified examples can be found on eBay for less than $20.

PMG Registry: This note is part of one category in the PMG Registry: Regno DItalia Biglietto Di Stato, P24-P28, where the first-place set, Collectoroldthings' 100% complete Regno D’Italia Biglietto Di Stato, has a Pick #26 graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated EPQ. The second-place set, Sal C's Cappelluti P24-P28, has a "Top Pop" example of Pick #26 graded PMG 67 Superb Gem Uncirculated EPQ.

Previous Notes of the Month:


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