Sardinia 1847(g) P 20 lire
This specimen was lot 1696 in Jean Elsen sale 116 (Brussels, March 2013), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted,
" ITALIE, SAVOIE et SARDAIGNE, Charles Albert (1831-1849), AV 20 lire, 1847 P, sans marque d'atelier. Très Rare. Presque Très Beau (Italy, kingdom of Sardinia, Charles Albert (1831-49), gold twenty lire of 1849, no mintmark. Very rare, about 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 is a rare variety lacking a mintmark.
Recorded mintage: 32,702.
Specification: 6.45 g, 0.900 fine gold, .186 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: Mont-77; Gig-42, KM 131.2 (formerly C115.1).
- 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]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 116, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2013.
Link to: