Italy 5 Lire - Umberto I, 1878 – 1879

5 Lire from Italy. Issued from 1878 to 1879. Struck in Silver (.900). Measures 37 mm and weighs 25 g.

Obverse

Head of King Umberto I facing right with the date below the neck and the name of the engraver in the neck-cut (Umberto I King of Italy
879)

Reverse

Savoia crowned coat of arms decorated with the Collare dell'Annunziata divides value, all encircled in a wreath made by a branch of laurel and one of oak with the Star of Italy above and the mintmark below the wreath to the right (5 Lire
R)

Edge

Lettering incuse 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.)