1901 Italian 5 Centesimi Green Postage Stamp (Coat of Arms)

This is a 1901 'Poste Italiane' 5 centesimi green postage stamp featuring the Coat of Arms of the House of Savoy. The stamp is printed on paper with a green ink color that appears slightly faded. It features a central shield with a white cross, topped by a crown, set within an oval frame. The text 'POSTE ITALIANE' is arched at the top, and the denomination '5 CENT.' is located at the bottom. The stamp is rectangular with perforated edges, which show typical wear, though the teeth appear largely intact. There is a prominent black postmark or cancellation stamp visible over the center of the image, consisting of several parallel lines and some illegible lettering, indicating it was used for postage. The stamp is mounted on a white album page with a black border frame. Its condition appears fair to good for its age, noting the clear cancellation mark and minor surface toning. The design reflects the Turn of the Century Italian philatelic style, produced during the reign of King Victor Emmanuel III.

I have examined the digital representation of the 1901 Italian 5 Centesimi Green stamp (Scott #78). This issue, part of the 'Floreale' or Floral series, depicts the Coat of Arms of Savoy and was printed in high volumes during the reign of King Victor Emmanuel III. My examination reveals the stamp is in used condition with a heavy 'killer' style black cancellation. The perforations appear largely intact, though typical centering issues of the era are present, as evidenced by the uneven margins around the oval frame. From a market perspective, this is a very common philatelic item. Millions were produced to meet the postal demands of the period. Used examples with heavy cancellations—like the one observed here—carry minimal financial value, typically traded as 'filler' for starter collections rather than investment-grade assets. Comparables for common used 5c stamps of this series consistently hammer at the minimum retail price of $0.25 to $1.00 in bulk lots, though a clean individual example might reach $3.00 in a retail setting. While the design and ink wear appear consistent with an authentic 1901 printing, a definitive authentication cannot be performed via image alone. To confirm authenticity and rule out modern reproductions or color alterations, an in-person examination of the watermark (Crown) and paper fiber is required. Specifically, I would need to inspect the gum on the reverse (if any remains) and use a long-wave UV light to check for paper brightness and hidden repairs. However, given the low market value, the cost of professional certification would far exceed the value of the stamp itself.