Italy 5 Lire - Victor Emmanuel III, 1936 – 1941

5 Lire from Italy. Issued from 1936 to 1941. Struck in Silver (.835). Measures 23 mm and weighs 5 g.

Obverse

Head of King Vittorio Emanuele III facing left (VITTORIO EMANULE III KING AND EMPEROR)

Reverse

A female representing Fertility seated with four children between the crowned Savoy Shield with normal date at her left, and the Fascio Littorio with the year in Fascist Era at her right. Below, in the exergue, the value and the mintmark, plus the name of engraver near rim. (ITALY
1936 XIV (XIV being years of the fascist era)
R L. 5
G. ROMAGNOLI)

Edge

Lettering incuse between knots and stars (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.)