Italy - 20 centesimi 1863 - T BN

The coin's story

This small 20 centesimi coin in 835 thousandths silver, weighing one gram, belongs to the series struck from 1863 to 1867 in the name of Victor Emmanuel II. Victor Emmanuel II, King of Sardinia who became the first King of Italy in 1861, reigned until his death in 1878. The Pepoli law of 24 August 1862 created the Italian lira, the single currency of the new kingdom, at par with the French franc, in 1865, Italy joined the Latin Monetary Union with France, Belgium and Switzerland. The King's portrait was engraved by Giuseppe Ferraris, whose name appears below the neck. The reverse shows the value above a half-wreath of foliage, with the legend REGNO D'ITALIA (Kingdom of Italy). This example bears the mark T BN of the Turin Mint, which struck 6,288,572 pieces in 1863. The coin was demonetised on 1 March 1883.