Italy - 5 Lire 1911 50th Anniversary of the Kingdom

ITALY. Vittorio Emanuele III. (Emperor, 1900-1946). 1911-R AR 5 Lire. PCGS AU58, better than photo. 50th Anniversary of the Kingdom. Rome. Head left / Two classical figures standing. Italy - 5 Lire 1911 50 Years of Unification. In the field there are two figures: the female represents Italy and the male, seated on an altar, Rome. Behind the figures there is a giant steam warship adorned with festoons and with the Scudo Sabaudo on the bow. At the left of the figures is a plow covered with flowers with 1861-1911. Edge lettering: *FERT*∞*FERT*∞*FERT*∞. Medal alignment ^^. Engraver: Domenico Trentacoste. KM 53; Dav.-143; Gigante 71; MIR 1135a; Mont.-110; Pagani 707. This addition completes the 50th Anniversary of the Kingdom four coin commemorative set, all in AU - Unc.
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. 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’) This seems to be the most likely meaning of the acronym FERT (ed). [Numista]
Italy issued a series of beautiful coins to celebrate the 50th Year of the Kingdom (unified; 1861 - 1911). The silver 2 Lire is affordable, with a nice example here in the Moneta Museum, while the 5 Lire is very expensive in high grades, as is the gold 50 Lire, I had to settle for this exceptional AU 58. Only 60,000 of these were struck. See the 10 Centesimi here in the Museum, which is the only other coin in the 1911 Anniversary series. Obverse shows the portrait of the King of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele III. Reverse, are two standing figures: the female represents Italy and the male Rome. Behind the figures there is a giant steel WWI war ship. It's interesting to note that the 10 Centesimi and 2 Lire coins feature the wooden ship but the reverse design is changed for the 5 Lire and this 50 Lire piece with the war ship now changed to a steel war ship that is garlanded. Design by Italian designer D. Trentacoste and Luigi Giorgi INC.
The ANA's "Numismatist" for Oct 2020 (p.39) has a nice little feature on the coins of Vittorio Emanuele III at this: [ link ]