Sardinia 1830(t) P lira
This specimen was lot 1428 in Jean Elsen sale 121 (Brussels, June 2014), where it sold for €130 (about US$208 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALIE, SAVOIE et SARDAIGNE, Charles Félix (1821-1831), AR 1 lira, 1830 P, Turin. Très Beau à Superbe. (kingdom of Sardinia, Charles Felix (1821-31), silver one lira of 1830, Turin mint. Very fine to 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 issued 1824-30 and is scarce. This is not the highest mintage date but it is the lowest priced.
Recorded mintage: 312,638.
Specification: 5 g, 0.900 fine silver, 23 mm diameter, lettered edge.
Catalog reference: M., 103; G., 84, KM 121.1 (formerly C-103.1).
- 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.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 121, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2014.
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