Depicts a detail from the self-portrait of Artemisia Gentileschi as a woman playing the lute and wearing a turban. The painting is now part of the collection of the Wadsworth Athenaeum Museum, Hartford, United States. Encircling the design is the inscription REPUBBLICA ITALIANA, along with decorative elements. In the lower right of the depiction of Gentileschi is the name CASSOL, in reference to the coin’s designer.

Depicts a detail from the painting Judith and her maid with the head of Holofernes, which is part of the Palatine Gallery, Palazzo Pitti, in Florence. The inscriptions DONNE NELL’ARTE and ARTEMISIA GENTILESCHI above in two rows. To the right the mintmark letter “R,” identifying the Mint of Rome. The face value and the year of issue below.

In the deuterocanonical Book of Judith, Holofernes (Ancient Greek: Ὀλοφέρνης; Hebrew: הולופרנס) was an invading Assyrian general known for having been beheaded by Judith, a Hebrew widow who entered his camp and beheaded him while he was drunk.

Holofernes had been dispatched by Nebuchadnezzar to take vengeance on Israel, which had withheld assistance in his most recent war. Having occupied every country along the coastline, Holofernes destroyed all worship of gods other than Nebuchadnezzar. Holofernes was warned against attacking the Jewish people by Achior, the leader of the Ammonites; however, despite the advice he laid siege to the city of Bethulia, commonly believed to be Meselieh. The city almost fell to the invading army; Holofernes' advance stopped the water supply to Bethulia, leading to its people encouraging their rulers to give in to Holofernes' demands. The leaders vowed to surrender if no help arrived within five days. Bethulia was saved by Judith, a Hebrew widow, who entered the camp of Holofernes, seduced him, and got him drunk before beheading him. Judith returned to Bethulia with the severed head of Holofernes, having defeated the army.