Sardinia 1851(t) B 5 lire
This specimen was lot 5058 in Goldberg sale 69 (Los Angeles, May, 2012), where it sold for $1,495. The catalog description [2] noted, "Italian States - Sardinia. 5 Lire, 1851-B. Mint mark, eagle head. Vittorio Emanuele II. Head right. Reverse: Crowned arms within wreath. Lustrous. PCGS Genuine, Lightly cleaned. Our Grade sharpness of About Uncirculated." 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, struck 1850-61 before Victor Emanuel became king of Italy, is much scarcer than the preceding five lire of Carlo Felice (1821-31) or Carlo Alberto (1831-49).
Recorded mintage: 49,000.
Specification: 25 g, 0.900 fine silver.
Catalog reference: Dav-137; KM C124.2; Pagani-373.
- 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.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- [2]Goldberg, Ira, Larry Goldberg, Stephen Harvey and Paul Rynearson, Goldberg sale 69: the Pre-Long Beach Auction, Ancient and World Coins, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2012.
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