Italy 2 Lire - Victor Emmanuel III, 1914

2 Lire from Italy. Issued in 1914. Struck in Silver (.835). Measures 27 mm and weighs 10 g.

Obverse

Bust of King Vittorio Emanuele III facing right, with the name of the engraver below the neck

Reverse

The female effigy of Italy standing on a quadriga with a shield in her left hand and an olive branch in the right, with the date below the prancing legs of the horses. On the line of exergue is the name of the author at left and of the engraver at right, with the value is flanked by two knots with the mintmark on the left and the Star of Italy at the right in the exergue

Edge

Smooth with inscription (the motto of the House of Savoy) between knots and stars (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. Some 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.)