Sardinia 1820(t) L 20 lire
This specimen was lot 4601 in Sincona sale 9 (Zürich, October 2012), where it sold for 1150 CHF (about US$1,455 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALIEN Savoia-Sardegna Vittorio Emanuele I. 1802-1821. 20 Lire 1820, Torino. Fast vorzüglich. (Italy, kingdom of Sardinia, Victor Emanuel I, 1802-21, twenty lire of 1820, Turin mint, extremely 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. This type was struck only at Turin.
Recorded mintage: unknown but scarce.
Specification: 6.45 g, 0.900 fine gold, .186 troy oz AGW, this specimen 6.44 g.
Catalog reference: KM 114, Fr-1129, Pag. 8, Schl. 131, KM C95.
- 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.
- 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]Numismatic Coins, Medals, Banknotes & Books: Auction 9, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2012.
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