Kingdom of Italy (1861-1947)

In 1861, during the liberation movement against foreign occupation, the unification of Italian states into a single Kingdom of Italy took place. The liberation wars were led by the Sardinian Kingdom. After unification, the king of Sardinia, Victor Emmanuel II, became the king of the new state, the constitution of the kingdom became the constitution of Sardinia, and in the center of the coat of arms of the new Kingdom was the coat of arms of the Savoy dynasty, to which Victor Emmanuel II belonged. This coat of arms can be found on some coins of the Italian Kingdom.

 

Pay attention to the inscription in the circle of the coat of arms. FERT is the royal motto of the Savoy dynasty, adopted during the reign of King Vittorio Amedeo II (1666-1732). There are several versions of the reading of this abbreviation:

This motto is also repeatedly mentioned on the coins of the Italian kingdom (see below).

 

Below are several coins of the 1861 model.

 

It should be noted that coins in denominations of 1 and 2 centesimi with a date of 1867 and the sign of the Milan Mint (M) were issued not only this year, but also in 1868, 1883-1886, 1888, 1889, 1891, 1892, i.e. even after the death of King Victor Emmanuel II in 1878 during the reign of the next king, Umberto I.

 

Silver coins of King Victor Emmanuel II were issued in two types. Type 1 coins issued from 1861 to 1863 show the coin's denomination on the obverse, surrounded by a floral ornament at the bottom and the kingdom's name at the top.

On the obverse of type 2 coins in the center is the coat of arms of the kingdom, and the denomination is indicated at the bottom of the coin, under the coat of arms.

Umberto I, son of Victor Emmanuel II, inherited the throne in 1878 after the death of his father. He ruled Italy until 1900, until he was shot dead by an anarchist.

 

Copper coins of the same denomination as under Victor Emmanuel II were issued in extremely small editions.

 

Of particular interest to collectors is the 5 centesimo coin, issued only in 1895 and 1896. The reason for this is the extremely small circulation relative to other copper coins of Umberto I (the total circulation of coins in 5 centesimos of 1895-1896 of issue amounted to less than 900 thousand copies). The coin was also issued in 1900, but due to the death of the king, it never came into circulation.

 

Prior to this, 20 centesimo coins issued in silver were first issued on copper-nickel blanks in 1894. It is noteworthy that later, in 1918-1920, a considerable part of the circulation of these coins was put under press as blanks for coins of the same denomination of the next king of Italy - Victor Emmanuel III. The nickname of this denomination of coins in Italy is Nichelino.

 

The silver line continued to be produced in denominations of 50 centesimi, 1, 2 and 5 lira.

 

Part of the 1 lira coins issued in 1887 at the Roman Mint was made by a matrix with the letter (M), indicating belonging to the Milan Mint.

 

Umberto's son, the third king of Italy, Victor Emmanuel III, ascended the Italian throne in 1900, shortly after the assassination of his father. It should be noted that, among others, numismatics was listed in the king's hobbies. He owned the richest collection of coins, which to this day financially supports his descendants. The reign of Victor Emmanuel III of Italy lasted 46 years, which exceeds the reign of his father (22 years) and grandfather (17 years) combined. That is why the number of types of coins issued by him is so extensive.

 

The first line of bargaining chips was published in 1901-1902. It included bronze 1 and 2 centesimos, 25 nickel centesimos and silver 1 and 2 lira. As you can see, the mint is different from its predecessors.

 

The history of the coin with an unusual denomination of 25 centesimo for Italy is very interesting. The coin was issued in 1902 and 1903. At the same time, a 1 lira coin was in circulation, outwardly similar in size and design - both coins depict an eagle with the coat of arms of the Savoy dynasty. The coins were so similar that they were confused with each other, so out of a planned circulation of 120 million exes. released only 13.668 million exs. On February 13, 1908, by an official royal decree, coins of this type ceased to be legal tender in the Italian Kingdom and in the amount of 13,353,145 pieces were withdrawn from circulation and destroyed. Thus, "somewhere" only 314,854 specimens were lost or settled in numismatics.

 

In 1908, a new line of coins with ancient subjects was put into circulation in Italy. 1, 2, 5 centesimo with the plot "Italy on the nose" (Italia su prora), 20 centesimo "Soaring freedom" (Liberta librata).

 

Large denominations of 1 and 2 lira were released in silver 835 samples with the same Quadriga briosa plot. Please note that the FERT inscription is not only on the edge, but is also present on the chariot.

 

In February 1912, the Art and Coin Commission approved a new design for 1 and 2 lyre coins. The quadriga became more "lively," the image is more embossed, the circle around the bust of the king was removed.

 

 

In 1911, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Kingdom, the Roman Mint issued three commemorative coins: bronze 10 centesimo and silver 2 and 5 lira dedicated to this event.

 

In 1918-1920 , coins were issued in 20 centesimos with the coat of arms of the Savoy dynasty. As blanks, as already mentioned above, 20 centesime coins of Umberto I were partially used in 1909-1914. There are versions of coins with smooth and chopped edge, issued in 1918 and 1919 and smooth edge in 1920. Deliberately newly issued coins did not fall on the gurning machine! Therefore, a smooth edge clean and even throughout the diameter testifies to the use of an "empty" blank as a blank, while a edge with vaguely drawn scars or their remains (stripes) indicates that Umberto I's Nichelino was used for the blank.

 

In 1919, coins of almost the entire line with an updated design were issued. On small bronze coins 5 and 10 centesimo, agricultural motifs prevail: a spike for 5 centesimo and a bee for 10 centesimo.

 

Coins of 50 centesimo with the plot "Lions" (Leoni) were originally issued with a smooth edge, but having some similarity in size with 5 lira, which were in circulation at the same time, in 1929 began to be withdrawn from circulation for the purpose of grounding with a ribbed pattern. Coins banned for use in 1940 continued to be in circulation until the end of World War II.

 

On 1 lira with "Sitting Italy" (Italia seduta) you can again find the coat of arms of the Savoy dynasty with the inscription "Bvono da l.1," which can be literally translated as "Good 1 lira."

 

In 1922, a government led by Mussolini came to power in Italy. The far-right party movement led by him is known to us as fascism. The word comes from the Latin "fascis," which means rods, rods. Masters in ancient Rome wore bundles of tied rods behind their backs - fascin, used in punishments. In wartime, the powers of masters allowed them to apply the death penalty, so an ax was stuck in the bundle.

 

In 1923, a 2 lira coin was issued for the first time with the image of fascine.

 

On silver 5 lira, produced from 1926 to 1930, you can again find a fascine on which an eagle sits (Aquilino).

 

10 lire "Chariot" (biga).

Coins of this type have varieties according to the way the edge is decorated. Type 1 includes coins with the inscription variant * FERT * (1 asterisk before and after the inscription), type 2 with the inscription variant * * FERT * * (2 asterisks before and after the inscription).

 

In the pre-war years, in 1936, coins were issued in the next, updated design. Coins of these issues, changing in the material, were issued until 1943, when the Mussolini regime fell. Coins of those years are considered in detail here. 

 

In 1946, after the end of the war, Victor Emmanuel III abdicated in favor of his son Umberto II, who ruled for only a month. A constitutional referendum abolished the monarchy in Italy and Italy became a Republic. The last Kingdom of Italy lasted from 1861 to 1947 - only 86 years.

 

By tradition, I want to complete my review with a coin issued for colonial possessions. At a time when most of the advanced countries of Europe acquired colonies in different parts of the world, the Italian Kingdom did not want to stand aside. The number of Italian colonies was not as numerous as, for example, Great Britain, France or Portugal. The main direction of expansion fell on North and East Africa, these are Italian Libya, Italian Ethiopia, Italian Somalia and Italian Eritrea.

 

In 1880, by agreement with the local sultans, the Italian Kingdom acquired land on the coast of the Indian Ocean, and formed the dependent states of Italian Eritrea and Italian Somalia. These territories were necessary to create a bridgehead with the aim of subsequent invasion and colonization of the only independent African state - Ethiopia. The short-term war of 1895-1896 ended with the defeat of the Italian army and the colonization of Ethiopia had to be postponed until 1935, when warriors of local tribes, armed only with bows, opposed the armed heavy artillery and tanks of the Italian army. In 1936, Italian East Africa was formed, which included Italian Eritrea, Italian Somalia, as well as the captured territories of Ethiopia. After the defeat of Italy in World War II, the territories gained independence.