Italy 20 Centesimi - Victor Emmanuel III, 1907

20 Centesimi from Italy. Issued in 1907. Struck in Nickel. Measures 21 mm and weighs 4.1 g.

Obverse

A female figure on the right of the coin holding an ear of wheat in her hand (ITALY)

Reverse

An allegorical figure of Liberty in flight holding a torch in her left hand, with the figure of the crowned Savoy Shield and the names of the author and of the engraver. To the left of the Shield is the denomination, the year of issue, and the mintmark.

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.)