Sardinia 1857(t) B 5 lire
This specimen was lot 2784 in Sincona sale 80 (Zurich, October 2022), where it sold for 4,000 CHF (about US$4,794 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY | House of Savoy / Sardinia, Vittorio Emanuele II. 1849-1861. 5 Lire 1857, Torino. Very rare date. NGC MS62. Most attractively toned." 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. The Genoa mint five lire are rather more common than the Turin product.
Recorded mintage: 19,211, one of many scarce dates.
Specification: 25 g, 0.900 fine silver, .723 troy oz ASW, this specimen 24.93 g.
Catalog reference: KM 144.1, Mont. 54 (R2). Pagani 384, Dav-137.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- 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]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 80, World Coins and Medals, SINCONA Bullion Auction, World Banknotes, Coins and Medals from Switzerland, Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2022.
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