Italy - 50 centesimi 1863- M BN crown

The coin's story

This 50 centesimi coin in 835 thousandths silver 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). The mark M BN indicates the Milan Mint. The 1863 date was struck there in 33,759,516 pieces, Naples and Turin also struck this type.