Description

Italian Somaliland, once a protectorate and later a colony of the Kingdom of Italy in present-day Somalia, was initially governed by Somali Sultanates in the north and various political entities in the south during the 19th century. Italy gradually acquired control through protection treaties in the 1880s.

Resistance to Italian expansion began in the 1890s with the Bimaal and Wa'dan revolts near Merca, coinciding with the anti-colonial Dervish movement in the north. After a two-year military campaign, Rome established authority over the entire region by the end of 1927.

In 1936, Italian Somaliland became part of Italian East Africa as the Somalia Governorate until Italy's loss in 1941 during World War II. British military administration followed until 1950, when it became a United Nations trusteeship under Italian administration. On July 1, 1960, the Trust Territory of Somalia joined with former British Somaliland to create the Somali Republic.

The Somalo (plural: Somali) was the currency of the Trust Territory of Somaliland administered by Italy between 1950 and 1960. The "Somalo" remained officially in use in the newly created Somali Republic until 1962. It was subdivided into 100 centesimi.

Engraver: Giuseppe Romagnoli