Italy Victor Emmanuel III 20 Centesimi

History

20 Centesimi 1918-1920, KM# 58, Italy, Victor Emmanuel III

Obverse. Photo © Numismatic Guaranty Company

Description

In 1918, the liberty head 20 Centesimi (KM# 44) having become uneconomical to produce, the government dragged out of storage 309 metric tons of old copper-nickel twenty Centesimi from the reign of Umberto (KM# 28) and restruck them with this design. In 1920, supplies ran out and coining ceased. Most specimens show traces of the undertype.

Engraver: Attilio Silvio Motti

Obverse	Coat of arms Savoy Crown, jewelry Italy Tree, flower, plant etc. Oak Crowned Savoy shield between twisted branches of laurel and oak. Up the motto: REGNO D'ITALIA. Below the initials of the engraver. Savoy shield is the arms of the House of Savoy. It is said to first appear in 1263, when it likely signified the “taking of the cross” by Pietro II, who was the maternal uncle of Eleanor of Provence, wife of Henry III of England. Over the span of many centuries this royal family played an important role in both French and Italian history. In fact, for some time the Savoy shield was displayed on Italy’s well-known tricolor flag. REGNO D'ITALIA A.M.
Reverse	Tree, flower, plant etc. Laurel Value and date within a hexagon. The hexagon is surrounded by a laurel wreath. The mintmark is below the date. CENT. 20 1918 R
Edge	Reeded (milled) Plain The edge must be smooth but sometimes traces of reeding old copper-nickel twenty Centesimi from the reign of Umberto (KM# 28) are visible.