Piedmontese 10 Lire

The Piedmontese 10 Lire gold coin, issued by the Kingdom of Sardinia, was one of the first Italian coins to adopt a weight standard nearly identical to the French 20 francs piece, facilitating trade across borders in the turbulent post-Napoleonic era.

This made it a practical choice for merchants, even if it meant the Savoyard rulers had to import refined gold from abroad. Struck in Turin with a fineness of 900/1000, the coin typically featured the profile of the reigning monarch, such as Charles Albert after 1831, on its obverse, alongside the Savoy cross on the reverse. Mintage figures vary by year, but records from the 1820s are spotty, likely lost in bureaucratic reshuffles.

While some collectors chase these for their role in pre-unification Italy, the coin's edge inscription—a simple "Dieu protège la Sardaigne"—was more a nod to piety than propaganda.

Planchets were sourced locally when possible, though exact suppliers remain murky.