Sardinia 1830(g) P 5 lire
This specimen was lot 34051 in Heritage sale 3098 (New York, January 2022), where it sold for $4,080. The catalog description[1] noted, "Italy: Sardinia. Carlo Felice 5 Lire 1830 (Anchor)-P MS64+ NGC, Genoa mint. A choice example, weaving slate-argent surfaces, deeply-engraved devices and glossy fields. The finest graded by NGC or PCGS." 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: 1,121,712.
Specification: 25 g, 0.900 fine silver, .723 troy oz ASW.
Catalog reference: Dav-135, KM 116.2.
- 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.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, NYINC World Coins Signature Auction 3098, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.
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