Sardinia 1780 1/2 scudo
This specimen was lot 837 in Jean Elsen price list 258 (Brussels, October 2011) where it was offered for €650 (about US$909). The catalog description noted,
"ITALIE, SAVOIE et SARDAIGNE, Victor Amédée III (1773-1796), AR mezzo scudo (3 lire), 1780, Turin. Droit: B. cuirassé à gauche. Revers: Ecu ovale couronné, entouré du collier de Savoie. Nettoyé. Très Beau à Superbe. (kingdom of Sardinia, Victor Amadeus, 1773-96, silver half scudo of three lire of 1780, Turin mint. Obverse: armored bust to left; reverse: crowned oval arms, order of Savoy around. Cleaned, very fine to extremely fine.)"
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. This type was struck 1773-93 but is seldom seen today.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 17.58 g, .904 fine silver, .511 troy oz ASW, this specimen 17,23 g.
Catalog reference: Sim., 10/8, KM C60.
- 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.
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