Sardinia 1822(t) L 40 lire
This specimen was lot 2751 in Sincona sale 80 (Zürich, October 2022), where it sold for 800 CHF (about US$959 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY | House of Savoy / Sardinia, Carlo Felice, 1821-1831. 40 Lire 1822, Torino. Rare. Only 5,011 pieces struck. 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. This very scarce type was struck at Turin 1822, 1825 and 1831, of which this is the scarcest date.
Recorded mintage: 5,011.
Specification: 12.90 g, 0.900 fine gold, this specimen is 12.82 g.
Catalog reference: KM 120.1 (formerly C107.1); Mont. 21 (R2). Pagani 39. Fr-1134.
- 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]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 80, World Coins and Medals, SINCONA Bullion Auction, World Banknotes, Coins and Medals from Switzerland, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2022.
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