Italian Somaliland 1 Centesimo
Italy
1925–1936
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Market Price Range
Based on 1 eBay listings · Prices vary by grade and condition
Estimated Melt Value
$0.02
Based on Copper spot price ($6.07/oz) · 95.0% purity · 1.6g
Updated 12:48 PM
Collector premium not included
Specifications
| Country | Italy |
| Years Minted | 1925–1936 |
| Composition | Bronze |
| Weight | 1.6 g |
| Diameter | 20 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Plain |
Design
Obverse
The obverse features the portrait of King Vittorio Emanuele III.
Reverse
The reverse depicts the denomination and the inscription 'Somalia Italiana'.
History & Notable Facts
The most intriguing thing about the Italian Somaliland 1 Centesimo is how it imposed the Italian lira's decimal system on a region where traders still favored the weighty silver of Maria Theresa thalers from across the border.
Minted in bronze at the Rome mint from 1925 through 1936, these coins bore the profile of King Vittorio Emanuele III on one side and a simple value inscription on the other. No fancy animals or local motifs appeared; it was straightforward colonial currency. Records show variations in design over the years, but exact details for some issues remain murky, possibly lost in wartime chaos.
The coin's circulation reflected Italy's grip on the Horn of Africa, though it never fully displaced older trade goods. Minting numbers? Spotty at best—archival fires in the 1940s didn't help.
Some collectors quip it's the only coin that traveled farther than its emperor's ambitions.
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