Sardinia 1850(t) B 10 lire
This specimen was lot 1439 in Jean Elsen sale 161 (Brussels, March 2025), where it sold for €460 (about US$599 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALIE, SAVOIE et SARDAIGNE, Victor Emmanuel II (1849-1861), AV 10 lire, 1850 B, Turin. Rare. (Italy, kingdom of Sardinia, Victor Emanuel II, 1849-61, gold ten lire of 1850, Turin mint. Rare, Fine.)"
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 Turin 1850, 1853-60 and at Genoa 1850 only but all mintages are small. The accompanying twenty lire are common but this type is rare.
Recorded mintage: 2,326.
Specification: 3.22 g, 0.900 fine gold, 18 mm diameter, designed by Giuseppe Ferraris.
Catalog reference: KM 145.1, M. 28; G. 24; Fr-1149.
- 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.
- 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.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 161, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2025.
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