Italy 1 Lira - Victor Emmanuel II, 1861 – 1862

1 Lira from Italy. Issued from 1861 to 1862. Struck in Silver (.900). Measures 23 mm and weighs 5 g.

Obverse

Head of King Vittorio Emanuele II right. Below the neck the name of the engraver.

Reverse

Savoia coat of arms decorated with the Collare dell'Annunziata, both within a laurel wreath. Below value of the coin and mintmark. Mintmarks: T and B in a shield (1861) or T and BN monogram (1862) for Turi (KM#5.1) N for Naples (KM#5.2) F with a fist and a mount for Florence (KM#A5)

Edge

Inscription 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.)