Sardinia 1835(t) P 100 lire
This specimen was lot 30102 in Heritage sale 3042 (Long Beach, September 2015), where it sold for $1,292.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "Sardinia. Carlo Alberto gold 100 Lire 1835 (Eagle)-P AU50 NGC, Turin mint. Bright golden tone caresses the surfaces and moderate marks, as are typical for type, are scattered about." 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 (shown here) as a mintmark while coins struck at Genoa sported an anchor. This type was struck 1832-42 at Turin (shown here) and Genoa and superseded the gold eighty lire of the previous reign. Tho not rare, it is expensive.
Recorded mintage: 26,360--highest mintage date.
Specification: 32.25 grams, 0.900 fine gold, .933 troy oz AGW, 34 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM 133.1, Fr-1138.
- 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]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, Heritage World Coin Auction 3042, featuring the Read and Bob Bennett Collections, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2015.
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