1940 Italy 1 Lira Il Duce Mussolini

A Symbol Of Mussolini's Fascism

Here is your chance to own an authentic and important piece of World War II history—a coin struck in Acmonital in 1940, the same year Italy joined the Axis Powers fighting in World War II. The leader of Italy at that time was dictator Benito Mussolini, who ruled the nation as il Duce (the Leader) from 1922 to 1943 as the prime minister of the National Fascist Party. Mussolini's Fascist takeover of Italy served as an inspiration and example for Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party in Germany.

Mussolini has since become one of the most reviled men of the 20th century. His alliance with Hitler during World War II—the so-called "Pact of Steel"—led to Italy invading Somalia, Greece, and Albania, and resulted in the deaths of more than 450,000 Italian soldiers. By war's end, both men were dead—Hitler holed up like a rat in his Berlin bunker, dead from swallowing a cyanide capsule and shooting himself in the head; Mussolini hung upside down like a slaughtered animal from the roof of a gas station in Milan, Italy.

Perched Eagle & Fasces Represented The Power Of Rome—And Mussolini

The design on this 1 Lira coin features Italian King Victor Emmanuel II (1820-1878), the first king of an independent, united Italy since the 6th century. The coin's reverse shows a perched Eagle and fasces (a bundle of rods with a projecting axe blade), both recognized symbols of the Fascist ideology. Mussolini coined the term "fascism" in 1919 to describe his political movement. He adopted the ancient Roman fasces, which represented the power of Rome, as his symbol.

The Unique Definition Of Acmonital

The metal used to strike this coin is also unique. Acmonital is a stainless steel alloy. The word itself is an amalgam of three Italian words: Acciaio Monetale Italiano, which means Italian monetary steel. (And for all you scrabble players out there, forget it, Acmonital it is NOT a valid scrabble word!)

Each coin will arrive packaged in a numismatic capsule beautifully displayed inside a black presentation box, The coin will be accompanied by a fact-filled a storycard that details the historical context. Act now!