The lira; plural lire was the currency of Italy between 1861 and 2002, of the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy between 1807 and 1814, and of the Albanian Kingdom between 1941 and 1943.
In 1861, coins were minted in Florence, Milan, Naples and Turin in denominations of 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c and 50c, L.1, L.2, L.5, L.10 and L.20, with the lowest four in copper, the highest two in gold and the remainder in silver. In 1863, silver coins below 5 lire were debased from 90% to 83.5% and silver 20-centesimi coins were introduced. Minting switched to Rome in the 1870s.
In 1919, with the purchasing power of the lira reduced to one fifth of that of 1914, the production of all earlier coin types except for the nickel 20c halted, and smaller, copper 5c and 10c and nickel 50c coins were introduced, followed by nickel L.1 and L.2 pieces in 1922 and 1923, respectively. In 1926, silver L.5 and L.10 coins were introduced, equal in size and composition to the earlier L.1 and L.2 coins. Silver L.20 coins were added in 1927.
This particular coin is something I found while on a trip to Sicily.
Please feel free to message with any questions.
1942 Italian 20 Cent Coin - Victor Emmanuel III - Italy Twenty Cent Coin 1942 20 Centesimi - Kingdom of Italy - XF
In 1861, coins were minted in Florence, Milan, Naples and Turin in denominations of 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c and 50c, L.1, L.2, L.5, L.10 and L.20, with the lowest four in copper, the highest two in gold and the remainder in silver. In 1863, silver coins below 5 lire were debased from 90% to 83.5% and silver 20-centesimi coins were introduced. Minting switched to Rome in the 1870s.
In 1919, with the purchasing power of the lira reduced to one fifth of that of 1914, the production of all earlier coin types except for the nickel 20c halted, and smaller, copper 5c and 10c and nickel 50c coins were introduced, followed by nickel L.1 and L.2 pieces in 1922 and 1923, respectively. In 1926, silver L.5 and L.10 coins were introduced, equal in size and composition to the earlier L.1 and L.2 coins. Silver L.20 coins were added in 1927.
This particular coin is something I found while on a trip to Sicily.
Please feel free to message with any questions.
1942 Italian 20 Cent Coin - Victor Emmanuel III - Italy Twenty Cent Coin 1942 20 Centesimi - Kingdom of Italy - XF