Sardinia 1797 soldo
This specimen was lot 34267 in Heritage sale 3076 (Long Beach, CA, September 2019), where it sold for $168. The catalog description[1] noted, "Italy: Sardinia. Carlo Emanuele IV Soldo 1797 MS63 PCGS, Turin mint. A difficult minor in choice grades, a small die cud over the date and light peppering of die rust confirming that this is a special quality piece." 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 1797-98. Other billon coinage included the 5, 7.6, 10, 15 and 20 soldi. Twenty soldi = one lira.
Recorded mintage: 3,675,862 for 1797-98, 1797 slightly better.
Specification: 1.9 g, billon, 19.5 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM 95.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano and Warren Tucker, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3076, featuring the Allen Moretti Swiss Collection and the James Mossman Collection of Canadian Coinage, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2019.
- 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.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
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