Horses
USA - Delaware State Quarter


Obverse
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Reverse
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Coin Details

  

Set Details
Coin Description: 10000L 1996R REPUBLIC ANNIVERSARY
Grade: NGC PF 69 ULTRA CAMEO
Owner: brg5658
 
Set Category: Thematic & Topical Coins
Set Name: Horses
Slot Name: USA - Delaware State Quarter
Research: See NGC's Census Report for this Coin

Owner's Description

Purchased on 7/6/2012. Mintage: 7,900 proofs This coin celebrates the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Republic of Italy on 2 June 1946. The history of Italy before and after this date is very interesting. In the aftermath of World War II, Italy was struggling economically, socially, and philosophically with the leadership of their country. In particular, great anger was expressed against the monarchy for its endorsement of the Fascist regime for the previous twenty years, and anger also flourished over Italy's embarrassment of having been occupied by the Germans and then by the Allies. Even prior to the rise of the Fascists, the monarchy was seen to have performed poorly, and Italian society was extremely divided between the wealthy north and poorer south. World War I resulted in Italy making few gains and was seen as what fostered the rise of Fascism. These frustrations compacted into a revival of the Italian republican movement. On the verge of a republican revolution, thinking it may be a dislike of him personally (and with pressure from others), Italy's King Vittorio Emanuele III abdicated the throne on 9 May 1946, leaving his son King Umberto II in charge. Subsequently, King Umberto II was pressured by the threat of civil war to call a referendum to decide whether Italy should remain a monarchy or become a republic. On 2 June 1946, the republican side won 54% of the vote and Italy officially became a republic. The horse side of this coin features a rendition of the statues which are a part of the Fontana dei Dioscuri. This fountain is set opposite the Palazzo del Quirinale, the official residence of the President of the Italian Republic in the Piazza del Quirinale. Fontana dei Dioscuri translates as the "fountain of the sons of Zeus". In particular, the Dioscuri refers to Castor and Pollux, of which one is pictured on the coin above. Castor and Pollux are regarded as the patrons of sailors and are associated with horsemanship in general. The statues of Castor and Pollux and their horses date to the time of Constantine I (272-337 AD) and have been in the Quirinale square since 1588. The current day fountain surrounding the statues dates from 1818.

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