Sardinia 1838(g) P 5 lire
This specimen was lot 3229 in Steve Album Auction 53 (Santa Rosa, CA, September 2025), where it sold for $192. The catalog description[1] noted, "SARDINIA: Carlo Alberto, 1831-1849, AR 5 lire, Genoa, 1838(b), initial P, anchor privy mark, lightly cleaned, a few obverse contact marks, small reverse rim nick, lustrous, especially on reverse, XF." 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. This type was struck at Genoa (anchor mintmark) and Turin (eagle mintmark) 1831-49. It is affordable in worn condition but expensive choice.
Recorded mintage: 307,155 plus 41,757 from Turin.
Specification: 25 g, 0.900 fine silver, 37 mm diameter, lettered edge.
Catalog reference: Dav-136, KM 130.2 (formerly C113.3).
- 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]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Hanbing Feng, Auction 53, featuring Selections from the Dr. Robert A. Rosenfeld, Almer H. Orr III, Dr. Dirk Loer and Joe Sedillot Collections, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2025.
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