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Full Specimen Set of Egypt Cassa Mediterranea di Credito per l'Egitto 1; 5; 10; 50 Piastre; 1; 5; 10; 50 100 Lire ND (1942) ... (Total: 9 notes)
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Description
Incredible Complete 1942 Specimen Set
Full Specimen Set of Egypt Cassa Mediterranea di Credito per
l'Egitto 1; 5; 10; 50 Piastre; 1; 5; 10; 50 100 Lire ND (1942) Pick
UNL; M1s; M2s; M3s; M4s; M5s; M6s; M7s; M8s Nine Specimen PMG
About Uncirculated 53, About Uncirculated 55, Choice About Unc 58
(5); Choice Uncirculated 63; Choice Uncirculated 64.A fantastic, historic, and virtually unseen group, this complete set of nine Specimen represented one aspect of Italy's colonial aspirations in the 20th-century. Italian Unification culminated in 1861, and nationalism continued to grow in the following decades. In the late 19th-century, Italy conquered Somali and Eritrea. Italy also acquired the Dodecanes Islands in the Aegean Sea, followed by victory in Ethiopia in 1936. Libya was also acquired, after the Italian-Turkish War. When World War II began, Italian pride under Mussolini was high and further conquests were planned. Italy occupied Greece, Corsica, Albania, and other regions in and around the Mediterranean during the mid-1940s.
Joining forces with the Germans, Italy aspired to defeat the British in North Africa. Both Egypt and Sudan were on the docket, and for some time, Italian troops were making headway. Ultimately, the British defeated the Axis powers at El Alamein, which ended Italian expansion. In the leadup to this defeat, two banknote series were prepared and printed in Rome for the anticipated Italian territories in Egypt and Sudan. These notes were never issued, and only a few sets of issued banknotes were saved from destruction. Specimen are almost equally rare and seldom seen, as the print totals were certainly small. This complete set of denominations for Egypt is offered in Specimen format, illustrating the currency scheme to be adopted if Italy was victorious. These notes were denominated in both Lire and Piastres. Nine denominations are known to exist, all of which are offered here. Each Specimen is overprinted on both sides and all were previously mounted. Any example of this type is extremely rare and a complete set is nothing short of fantastic. This set is the most highly anticipated offering in this dedicated auction. The smallest denomination, 1 Piastra, is unlisted in the Standard Catalog, as it was unknown when the catalog was formed. The original Specimen booklet is also included. Not to be missed.
Refer to IS Egypt, p. 404-412. (Total: 9 notes)
From The Ibrahim Salem Collection
Auction Info
2024 October 24 - 25 The Ibrahim Salem Collection of Islamic Countries Part II & III World Paper Money Signature® Auction #4050 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
October, 2024
24th-25th
Thursday-Friday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 4
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 1,386
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
20% of the successful bid (minimum $29) per lot.
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