Italy 5 Lire - Victor Emmanuel II, 1861 – 1878

5 Lire from Italy. Issued from 1861 to 1878. Struck in Silver (.900). Measures 37 mm and weighs 25 g.

Obverse

The bust of King Victor Emmanuel II facing right, and the name of the engraver and the date below the neck.

Reverse

Savoy coat of arms decorated with collar and badge of Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation, both within a laurel wreath, and the value of the coin and the mintmark below. (KINGDOM OF ITALY
5 LIRA
M BN)

Edge

Inscription with Savoyan knots 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.)