Sardinia 1819(t) L 20 lire
This specimen was lot 1885 in Sincona sale 11 (Zürich, May 2013), where it sold for 800 CHF (about US$990 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALIEN Savoyen / Sardinien Vittorio Emanuele I. 1802-1821. 20 Lire 1819, Turin. Sehr schön. (kingdom of Sardinia, Victor Emanuel I, 1802-21, twenty lire of 1819, Turin mint. Rare, very fine.)"
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. The king was rewarded by Metternich with the republic of Genoa, which he added to his territory and opened a branch mint there in addition to his existing mint at Turin. The Turin mint used an eagle's head as a mintmark while coins struck at Genoa sported an anchor.
Recorded mintage: 21,642.
Specification: 6.45 g, 0.900 fine gold, .186 troy oz AGW, this specimen 6.40 g.
Catalog reference: KM 114 (formerly C95); Pagani-7, Fr-1125, Schl-130.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [2]Numismatic Coins, Medals, Banknotes & Books: Auction 11, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2013.
Link to:
- 1818(t) 20 lire
- 1819(t) 5 lire
- 1820(t) 20 lire
- Coins and currency dated 1819
- return to coins of Italy, Sardinia