The Piguet auction house in Geneva will host, Sept. 18-21, the public exhibition of a collection of medals that belonged to the last two Italian sovereigns, Victor Emmanuel III (Naples, 1869 - Alexandria, 1947) and Umberto II (Racconigi, 1904 - Geneva, 1983). The collection, jealously preserved by HRH Princess Maria Gabriella of Savoy, is being auctioned exclusively online through the Maison Piguet website.The public exhibition will thus be held at theHôtel des Ventes, Rue Prévost-Martin 44-51, from September 18 to 21, while the online auction is open from September 10 to 22. The initiative represents the first opportunity for the public to directly view hundreds of rare pieces spanning centuries of European and Italian history. The Savoy collection is distinguished by its unified provenance and the quality of the pieces.
Victor Emmanuel III developed an academic interest in numismatics and medallistics, amassing during his lifetime one of the most important collections of his time. His son Umberto II further enriched this heritage, passing on part of the collection to his daughter Maria Gabriella, custodian to this day of the pieces. The collection of medals thus offers direct evidence of the events that marked Europe from the 17th to the 20th century, with reference to conflicts, alliances and dynastic events.
“Gaining the trust of Europe’s great aristocratic families is a rare privilege, and it is our responsibility to ensure that these prestigious objects find a new life with owners worthy of their history,” says Bernard Piguet, auctioneer and director of Piguet Hôtel des Ventes.
Among the most prominent pieces is an honorary medal of the Kingdom of Spain, minted in 1707 in gold, silver and bronze, depicting the effigies of King Philip V and Queen Marie Louise Gabrielle of Savoy. The object documents the European alliances during the War of the Spanish Succession and the complex power entanglements that led to the rise of Louis XIV’s grandson. The medal’s estimate ranges from 6,000 to 8,000 Swiss francs (about 6,400 to 8,500 euros). The collection also includes numerous references to the military exploits of Prince Eugene of Savoy-Carignano, a central figure in European military history.
His career took place mainly in the service of the Holy Roman Empire, after being excluded from the French army, and includes decisive battles against France. Medals related to Eugene include two modern gold and silver pieces commemorating his meeting with Victor Amadeus II following the Siege of Turin in 1706, depicting Pietro Micca on the reverse, estimated at between 8,000 and 12,000 Swiss francs (about 8,500 to 12,700 euros). A silver medal known as the Tower of Babel celebrates the seizure of the city of Lille in 1709 (estimate 1,000-1,500 francs, about 1,070-1,600 euros), while a satirical piece from 1708 shows the French defeat at the Battle of Audenarde represented by a rooster on a leash (lot 1035, estimate 200-300 francs, about 215-320 euros).
In addition to the European context, the auction documents the history of the House of Savoy and Italy more generally. The collection includes medals from the Kingdoms of Italy and Sardinia, alongside private issues of the House of Savoy, mainly in gold, silver and bronze. These objects illustrate key moments, such as the modernization of Piedmont, dynastic alliances with other European courts, and the process of Italian unification. Effigies of the four sovereigns from 1861 to 1946, Victor Emmanuel II, Humbert I, Victor Emmanuel III, and Humbert II, appear on several lots, including 1084, 1096, 1098, 1109, 1115, 1115, 1126, 1128, and 1129. Other relevant pieces in the auction include a rare British commemorative piece minted in 2010 in a limited edition of only 20 and weighing more than a kilogram of gold. The medal, which bears the profile of Queen Elizabeth II, celebrates the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and has an estimate of between 80,000 and 120,000 Swiss francs (about 85,600-128,400 euros).
The ensemble thus represents a tangible historical archive capable of recounting European and Italian events through the language of medallic art.
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| Medals of the House of Savoy at auction in Geneva at Piguet's, from the collection of the Kings of Italy |
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