Italy 2 Lire - Victor Emmanuel III, 1911

2 Lire from Italy. Issued in 1911. Struck in Silver (.835). Measures 27 mm and weighs 10 g.

Obverse

Head of King Vittorio Emanuele III facing left. Name of the engraver below neck. (VITTORIO EMANUELE III KING OF ITALY)

Reverse

In the field there are two standing figures: the female represents Italy and the male Rome. Italy has her left hand on a plow adorned with ears and fruits. Behind the figures there is a giant merchant ship. The value and the mintmark are low right.

Edge

Plain with inscription between 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.)