Italy 2 Lire - Victor Emmanuel II, 1861 – 1862

2 Lire from Italy. Issued from 1861 to 1862. Struck in Silver (.900). Measures 27 mm and weighs 10 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 for Turi (KM#6.1) N for Naples (KM#6.2)

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.)