1940 Italian 5 Lire Banknote
From the Collection: A banknote from the Fascist Era of Italy
By the time of their entrance into the Second World War in 1940, the Kingdom of Italy had been under the control of Benito Mussolini and his National Fascist Party for eighteen years. During this period the monarchy, under King Victor Emmanuelle III of the House of Savoy had remained in place, albeit sidelined by the Duce, who exercised dictatorial control over the state.
One of the more obvious ways in which lip service was paid to the King was the fact that at no point during his 21 year rule of the country did Mussolini appear on circulating currency. Instead, the King continued to appear as he had always done, although the emblems of Fascism began to appear alongside Imperial Roman symbolism to emphasize that the Kingdom was under the control of the Fascists.
Prominent on the reverse of the note, the Roman Imperial Eagle perched atop the Fasces served as a strong indicator of of the Party’s control of the Kingdom
A line of fasces is present behind the denomination on the obverse, as well as incorporated into the Royal Seal, while the reverse is dominated by a Roman-style Imperial Eagle perched atop the fasces. At the bottom of the obverse the year of printing can be seen, this too being a reminder of the regime in power, as it is stated first in the conventional format as “1940”, but then as “XVIII”, using Roman numerals to identify the 18th year of Italian Fascism.
The text on the obverse of the note reads:
REGNO D’ITALIA
BIGLIETTO DI STATO A CORSO LEGALE
LIRE
CINQVE
LIRE
Which translates as:
KINGDOM OF ITALY
LEGAL TENDER STATE NOTE
LIRE
FIVE
LIRE
And on the reverse:
LE LEGGE PUNISCE I FABBRICATORI DI BIGLIETTE FALSI CHI LI INTRODUCE E LI USAN EL REGNO E CHI AVENDOLI RICEVUTI PER VERILI RIMETTE IN CIRCOLAZIONE DOPO CONOSCIUTANE LA FALSITA
(Eagle)
REGIO DECRETO LEGGE 20 MAGGIO 1935 XIII No. 874 e DECRETO MINISTERIALE 27 OTTOBRE 1939 XVII
Translating to:
ROYAL DECREE, LAW OF 20 MAY, 1935 XIII (13th Year of Fascism) No. 874 AND MINISTERIAL DECREE OF 27 OCTOBER, 1939 XVII (17th Year of Fascism)