Sardinian 5 Lire
Italy
1816–1861
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Estimated Melt Value
$56.63
Based on Silver spot price ($79.17/oz) · 90.0% purity · 24.72g
Updated 6:41 PM
Collector premium not included
Specifications
| Country | Italy |
| Years Minted | 1816–1861 |
| Composition | 0.900 silver |
| Weight | 24.72 g |
| Diameter | 38 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Reeded |
Design
Obverse
Features the portrait of the reigning monarch, such as Vittorio Emanuele II, facing right.
Reverse
Displays the crowned shield of the House of Savoy with the denomination below.
History & Notable Facts
The Sardinian 5 Lire coin was struck using silver sourced from the kingdom's own mines in Sardinia, a practical move that kept foreign influences at bay during Napoleonic disruptions. This local metal ensured a steady supply, even as wars raged across Europe. Designs evolved over the years, starting with the profile of King Victor Emmanuel I in 1816 and shifting to his successors, each bust reflecting the era's political shifts.
Weights varied slightly, typically around 25 grams, but exact figures depend on the year and mint. Turin handled most production, though some coins may have come from Genoa in emergencies. Mintage records for the 1830s remain incomplete, lost to bureaucratic fires—literally.
If you turn one over, the reverse often shows the Savoy cross, a symbol as enduring as the dynasty itself. Don't bother with tall tales; it's just a coin that paid for soldiers and bread.
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