Somalia 1 Rupia
Italy
1925–1938
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Estimated Melt Value
$10.74
Based on Silver spot price ($80.05/oz) · 83.5% purity · 5g
Updated 12:34 PM
Collector premium not included
Specifications
| Country | Italy |
| Years Minted | 1925–1938 |
| Composition | 0.835 silver |
| Weight | 5 g |
| Diameter | 23 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Reeded |
Design
Obverse
Bust of King Vittorio Emanuele III facing left.
Reverse
Denomination and date within a wreath.
History & Notable Facts
The most intriguing fact about the Somalia 1 Rupia coin is that it featured a dromedary camel on its reverse, a nod to the arid landscapes of Italian Somaliland, while the obverse bore the profile of King Victor Emmanuel III.
This silver coin, struck in denominations from 1925 to 1938 at the Rome mint, served as currency in a colony where Italian lira equivalents were unpopular. Variations exist in edge lettering and die types, though records of exact mintages are spotty—many colonial documents vanished during World War II upheavals. Weighing around 9 grams with a fineness of .835 silver, it was designed for trade in a region more accustomed to barter.
Some years show signs of hurried production, likely due to supply demands in East Africa. As for myths, I've heard tales of hidden treasures in Somali sands, but that's just sand in the gears of history.
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