Italy 1 Lira - Victor Emmanuel II, 1863 – 1867

1 Lira from Italy. Issued from 1863 to 1867. Struck in Silver (.835). Measures 23 mm and weighs 5 g.

Obverse

Head of King Vittorio Emanuele II right, with the name of the engraver below the neck

Reverse

Savoia coat of arms decorated with the Collare dell'Annunziata, both within a laurel wreath. Below value of the coin and mintmark. Mintmarks: M and BN within a rectangle for Milan (km# 5a.1) T and BN within a rectangle for Turi (km# 5a.2) (Kingdom of Italy
M 1 Lira BN)

Edge

Inscription incuse between 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.)