Italien 2 Lire - Victor Emmanuel II, 1861 – 1862

2 Lire aus Italien. Ausgegeben von 1861 bis 1862. Geprägt in Silver (.900). Durchmesser 27 mm, Gewicht 10 g.

Avers

Head of King Vittorio Emanuele II right. Below the neck the name of the engraver.

Revers

Savoia coat of arms decorated with the Collare dell'Annunziata, both within a laurel wreath. Below value of the coin and mintmark. Mintmarks: T and B in a shield for Turi (KM#6.1) N for Naples (KM#6.2)

Rand

Inscription with Guilloche and rosettes (FERT was the motto of the house of Savoy, adopted by King Vittorio Amedeo II (1666-1732). It is thought to be an acronym, though what it stands for have been lost to time. Theories include:

1. Foedere Et Religione Tenemur (Latin, ‘treaty and religion bind us’)

2. Fortitudo Eius Rempublicam Tenet (Latin, ‘his bravery [or strength] preserves [or defends] the state’)

3. Fides Est Regni Tutela (Latin, ‘faith is the protector of [our] kingdom’)

Another theory suggests that it is in fact the Latin word fert, the third-person singular present active indicative of ferre (Meaning he/she/it suffers/bears), in reference to Jesus bearing the sins of the world.)