Owner Comments:
I got this coin out of an old Franklin Mint, "Coin Sets of all Nations" set that I bought while trying to find high grade examples of the 500 Lire coins in various dates / years. I'd bought and broken up a set that included a 1987 500 Lire coin, but most of the other coins in that set were from 1986. So, when I decided I wanted to go ahead and submit some coins from 1986 to finish building out a 1986 birthyear set, I sent in these coins as they looked like solid examples that would grade pretty well.
Unlike with the 50, 100, and 200 Lire, there were no 1986-dated 5 Lire or 10 Lire coins for sale that had already been graded by NGC. So, for these 2 coins, grading myself was about the only way I was going to get to finish this set other than waiting and hoping someone else would do it and sell me the coins for a reasonable price and I'm not much of a fan of "wait and hope." Not when I have or can get good examples I can grade myself.
The choice worked out... okay, with this coin. I got an MS65, which is a solid gem-uncirc grade but I don't suppose it will "Wow" most people.