Sardinia 1859(t) B lira
This specimen was lot 2034 in Jean Elsen sale 163 (Brussels, November 2025), where it sold for €360 (about US$416 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALIE, SAVOIE et SARDAIGNE, Victor Emmanuel II (1849-1861), AR 1 lira, 1859 B, Turin. Très rare. (Italy, kingdom of Sardinia, Victor Emmanuel II, 1849-61, silver lira of 1859, Turin mint. Very rare, Fine - Very Fine.)"
This is a late date of a type struck 1850-60 at Milan, Turin (shown here) and Genoa. This date is very scarce but most of the others are rare. In 1861, Victor Emanuel was proclaimed king of a united Italy.
Recorded mintage: 5,150, a very scarce date.
Specification: 5 g, 0.900 fine silver, 23 mm diameter, lettered edge.
Catalog reference:' KM 142.1, M. 85; G. 74.
- 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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