Sardinia 1831(t) P 40 lire
This specimen was lot 683 in Sincona sale 54 (Zürich, May 2019), where it sold for 1,500 CHF (about US$1,785 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Carlo Felice, 1821-1831. 40 Lire 1831, Torino. Selten. Nur 7711 Exemplare geprägt. Sehr schön-vorzüglich. (kingdom of Sardinia, Charles Felix, 1821-31, forty lire of 1831, Turin mint. Rare. Only 7711 pieces struck, Very fine-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 struck at Turin (shown here) and Genoa 1822-31.
Recorded mintage: 7,711.
Specification: 12.90 g, 0.900 fine gold, .373 troy oz ASW, 26 mm diameter, this specimen 12.83 g.
Catalog reference: KM 120.1, Mont. 28. Pagani 44 a. 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 54: Gold Coins and Medals, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2019.
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