Sardinia 1856(t) B 20 lire
This specimen was lot 2033 in Jean Elsen sale 163 (Brussels, November 2025), where it sold for €1,400 (about US$1,617 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALIE, SAVOIE et SARDAIGNE, Victor Emmanuel II (1849-1861), AV 20 lire, 1856 B, Turin. Extrêmement rare. Nettoyé. (Italy, kingdom of Sardinia, Victor Emmanuel II, 1849-61, gold twenty lire of 1856, Turin mint. Extremely rare, cleaned, Very Fine.)"
This type was struck at Turin 1850-52, 1855-61 in substantial quaitites and is common in circulated condition altho this is a rare date.It is struck to the same standard as the contemporary French twenty francs.
Recorded mintage: 61,485, a rare date.
Specification: 6.45 g, 0.900 fine gold, 21 mm diameter, lettered edge.
Catalog reference:' KM 146.1, M. 15; G. 12, Fr-1146.
- 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 163, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2025.
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