Sardinia 1839(t) P 20 lire
This specimen was lot 2694 in Sincona sale 87 (Zürich, October 2023), where it sold for 300 CHF (about US$404 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALIEN Savoyen / Sardinien, Carlo Alberto, 1831-1849. 20 Lire 1839, Torino. Gutes sehr schön. (Italy, kingdom of Sardinia, Charles Albert, 1831-49, twenty lire of 1839, Turin mint. Good very 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 1831-34, 1838-49.
Recorded mintage: 69,881.
Specification: 6.45 g, 0.900 fine gold, 21 mm diameter, reeded edge, this specimen 6.44 g.
Catalog reference: KM 131.1, Mont. 59, Pagani 189, Fr-1142.
- 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.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 87, World Coins and Medals, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2023.
- 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.
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