Sardinia 1820(t) L 5 lire
This specimen was lot 1465 in Ponterio sale 173 (New York, January 2013), where it sold for $646. The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY. Sardinia. 5 Lire, 1820-L. PCGS AU-50 Secure Holder. Attractively toned." 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 issue was struck 1816-20 only in Turin.
Recorded mintage: 100,552 (highest mintage date).
Specification: 25 g, 0.900 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM 113 or C-92; Gig-21; Mont-28, Dav-133.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, Ponterio sale 169: The November 2012 Baltimore Auction, Irvine, CA: Stack's Bowers, LLC, 2012.
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