500 Lira Italy Silver Dante Alighieri

1965, Italy (Republic). Silver 500 Lire “Dante Aligheri” Coin. AU++

Mint Year: 1965 Mint Place: Rome Reference: KM-100. Condition: Slightly toned, otherwise a nice lustre AU-UNC! Denomination: 500 Lire – 700th Anniversary of the Birth of Dante Alighieri (Poet). Material: Silver (.835) Weight: 10.99gm Diameter: 29mm

Obverse: Wreathed head of Dante Alighieri left / Star above seated female personification of the Italian state, holding helmet and olive-branch. Legend: REPVBLICA ITALIANA

Reverse: Radiant sun with ten stars between rays shining above clouds and stylized flame. Mint initial ® to right, value (L.500) and date (1965) below. Legend: 1965 R

Durante degli Alighieri (May/June c.1265 – September 14, 1321), commonly known as Dante, was a major Italian poet of the Middle Ages. His Divine Comedy, originally called Commedia and later called Divina by Boccaccio, is considered the greatest literary work composed in the Italian language and a masterpiece of world literature.

In Italy he is known as “the Supreme Poet” (il Sommo Poeta) or just il Poeta. Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio are also known as “the three fountains” or “the three crowns”. Dante is also called the “Father of the Italian language”.