Sardinia 1825(g) P 5 lire
This specimen was lot 1766 in Jean Elsen sale 165 (Brussels, June 2026), where it sold for €340 (about US$468 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALIE, SAVOIE et SARDAIGNE, Charles Félix (1821-1831), AR 5 lire, 1825 L, Gênes. Très rare. Beau à Très Beau. (Italy, kingdom of Sardinia. Charles Felix, 1821-31, silver five lire of 1825, Genoa mint. Very rare, Fine - 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 (shown here).
Recorded mintage: 17,183, a rare date.
Specification: 25 g, 0.900 fine silver, 37 mm diameter, lettered edge.
Catalog reference: KM 116.2 (formerly C105.2), M. 60; G. 41; Dav-135.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- 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]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 165, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2026.
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