Italian Eritrea 1 Thaler, 1918

1 Thaler from Italian Eritrea. Issued in 1918. Struck in Silver (.835). Measures 40 mm and weighs 28.06 g.

Obverse

Bust of Maria Theresa facing right. (Italian Kingdom. Trial.)

Reverse

Left facing, crowned eagle with shield on chest. (Silver coin to facilitate transactions in Eritrea.)

Edge

Inscription in relief (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.)