Are there any Italian Note buffs out there? This note, a 1951 50 Lira (Pick 91b), is a nice little note, but I'd like to find out more about it. My Standard Catalogue states that "Italia" is on the left of the note. When I look up Italia on the Web, it states that she usually has a mural helmet on. Take a look at the one below. There are 5 wolves (?) in a row and another above it on this helmet. I'm sure there has to be some type of symbolism there but I can't find anything written about it. Also, the background desgin on the front actually depicts 2 human figures. What are those? Or who are they or who do they represent? I'm facinated by the symbolism here and hope someone can help. THANKS!!!
The Italian wolf is Italy’s unofficial national animal and plays a large role in the legend of the founding of Rome.[SUP]a [/SUP][SUP]a[/SUP] Blashfield, Jean F. 2009. Italy: Enchantment of the World. New York: Scholastic Inc. In Republican times, several icons such as the Eagle, Wolf, Bear, Boar or Minotaur were carried as the symbols of Republican Legions. http://www.legionxxiv.org/signum/
Romulus and Remus are the purported founders of Rome, and they were believed by the Romans to have been suckled by a she-wolf. I have found the design fascinating since it is so different from the 100 and 500 Lire notes.
Hello from Italy Your note is commonly called "Helmeted Italy", but the portrait on the left is actually the goddess Rome, topped by a huge helmet adorned with the famous Roman she-wolf. Helmet and background design, two men with two horses in classical style, are a detail of the bas-relief of the "Altar of Fatherland" (Altare della Patria). Nice note :thumb: See below "Altare della Patria", in Rome, and Roman she-wolf with the twins Romulus and Remus. petronius
