Italy 50 Lire banknote 7.10.1929. P-47b.
Obverse: A light-green, rectangular background is set within a leafed frame, leaving open, on the right, a large oval for the watermark and, on the left, a second, smaller oval for the vignette. The blue-black vignette displays a capital "L" decorated with light arabesques and a light-faced figure terminating in a plinth with no cornice. The plinth underpins a group representing Art, consisting of a seated woman with two putti in her arms, one holding a palette and the other a T-square. A third putto stands between her knees, facing her. In the upper part of the note, an ornament containing the Royal coat of arms, and on the right a seated putto and a dove. Left: the counterfoil; between the counterfoil and the note, in the same colour as the vignette, above a rectangular ornament the same colour as the background, the words "Banca d'Italia" in English italic capital letters, interwoven. The "modified" version differs from the original 1896 version by the indication "Officina Carte Valori - I.P.S." at the right vertical margin. At the left-hand margin, the reference to the date of the ministerial decree giving the characteristics of every type of banknote is modified in accordance with the new decree.
Reverse: Like the face, the reverse has a background and a vignette. The background, taken up by spirals and rosettes, portrays at the centre, in an ornamental niche, a small, bearded male figure, wearing a necklace and a long toga, seated with a large book in hand, symbolizing Credit. In the vignette, framed by an architectural cincture, a female figure personifying Drawing, with a ruler in her right hand and a compass in her left. Behind this figure, a tripod sustaining a vase from which a flame rises, the symbol of fire's aid to the work of the Arts. In the lower part, the vignette consists of two pedestals. On the left, several musical instruments, a score and two putti, one erect playing two drums and the other, seated and listening. On the right, at the foot of the personification of Drawing, a T-square, a palette and two mallets, plus four putti: one of these, the symbol of the industrial arts, is seated on his heels as he moulds a vase; the other three recline on a cloth in various poses.
Drawing: Rinaldo Barbetti
Etching: E. Ballarini
Dimensions: 151 x 91 mm., excluding margins.
Paper: white paste watermark.
Characteristics: Ministerial decree of 30 March 1943; printed in three colours, one lithograph (base) and two letter-press (background and vignette) (no counterfoil); Ministerial decree of 28/29 February 1944: imprinted in three colours, two lithographs (base and background) and one letterpress (vignette).
Printer: I.P.S, O.C.V., Rome (1942-October 1943); I.P.S., plants in the North of Italy (late 1943-early 1945); I.P.S., O.C.V. Rome (from November 1944).
No. notes authorized: 129,600,000
Legislation: Ministerial Decree of 12 September 1896; Ministerial Decree of 7 December 1942; Ministerial Decree of 30 March 1943; Ministerial Decree of 10 August 1943; Ministerial Decree of 28 February 1944; Ministerial Decree of 29 February 1944.
Italian banknotes and paper money from Italy
1915-1943 Issue
“modified old type”
“new type”