ObverseImage: Wikimedia Commons · CNG · CC BY-SA 2.5
Kingdom of Italy 20 Centesimi
Italy
1861–1943
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Market Price Range
Based on 20 eBay listings · Prices vary by grade and condition
Estimated Melt Value
$0.05
Based on Copper spot price ($6.07/oz) · 95.0% purity · 4g
Updated 9:58 AM
Collector premium not included
Specifications
| Country | Italy |
| Years Minted | 1861–1943 |
| Composition | Bronze |
| Weight | 4 g |
| Diameter | 23 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Reeded |
Design
Obverse
Features the portrait of the reigning King of Italy, such as Vittorio Emanuele II or III, depending on the year.
Reverse
Displays the denomination '20 Centesimi' within a wreath, along with the date and sometimes the Italian coat of arms.
History & Notable Facts
The 20 Centesimi coin of the Kingdom of Italy featured a portrait of Vittorio Emanuele II that was based on a medallion by artist Luigi Cossa, making it one of the first standardized images on a national currency after unification.
This bronze piece, minted from 1861 through 1943, saw variations in design as Italy's monarchy evolved, with later versions depicting Umberto I and Vittorio Emanuele III. Early strikes came from the Milan and Naples mints, but production shifted to Rome after 1871, reflecting the capital's move. Some years lacked clear records due to wartime disruptions, so exact mintages remain murky.
The coin's edge bore a simple reeding, which helped deter clipping during economic instability. As for its circulation, it handled the small change of daily life in a fledgling nation, from markets in Sicily to factories in the north.
Plenty of these turned up melted for scrap during metal shortages, a fate that, one might say, outlasted the kingdom itself.
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