Sardinia 1774 1/2 scudo
This specimen was lot 1490 in Stephen Album sale 27 (Santa Rosa, CA, January 2017), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted, "SARDINIA: Vittorio Amadeo III, 1773-1796, AR ½ scudo, 1774. Small scratches in obverse left field, well struck, toned, better date, EF to About Unc, R2 (Montenegro)." This type is listed for 1773-93 and is noted as fairly expensive. The Duchy of Savoy was an Italian state wedged between France and Milan and was often the victim of invasions from both directions. In 1720, the duke acquired the island of Sardinia and promoted himself to king of Sardinia. In 1799, king Carlo Emanuele IV was evicted by Napoleon and the region converted to the Ligurian Republic then annexed to France. Sardinia did not recover her independence until 1815. A mezzo scudo was issued for the island of Sardinia (KM 71/KM C76) but it was only 11.79 g and had a different reverse. The island issue is very rare.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 17.58 g, .904 fine silver, .511 troy oz ASW, this specimen 17.57 g.
Catalog reference: KM-72 (formerly KM C60). Cr-76. Montenegro-335.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Gigante, Fabio, Gigante 2016: Catalogo Nazionale delle Monete Italiano Dal '700 All'Euro, 24a ed. Varese, Italy, 2015.
- Montenegro, Eupremio, Montenegro 2015: Manuale del Collezionista di Monete Italiane, 30 ed., Torino, Italy: Montenegro s.a.s., 2014.
- [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 27, featuring the Dr. Paul Stevens Collection of Indian Coins, Part VI, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2016.
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