10 lire 1943
Market Prices
8 salesAbout This Note
This is an Allied Military Currency 10 Lire note from 1943, issued for use by Allied forces in occupied Italy during World War II. The note exhibits excellent preservation with sharp printing and minimal aging, displaying the characteristic tan and beige front with ornate corner medallions and the reverse side in light green featuring patriotic inscriptions referencing the Four Freedoms. The uncirculated condition and crisp appearance make this an attractive example of this military currency series.
Common. This 10 Lire 1943 note was produced in large quantities for military use throughout occupied Italy and remains readily available in the collector market. eBay sales data shows consistent pricing in the $1-$4 range for circulated examples and approximately $17.50 for a professionally graded PMG 45 example, with catalog values from 2008 listing UNC at only $50. The high volume of these notes produced and their continued availability indicate no scarcity premium.
Issued during the Allied invasion and occupation of Italy in 1943, this military payment certificate represents a critical tool of American military administration in liberated territories. The reverse side features the Four Freedoms (Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear)—propagandistic references to President Roosevelt's 1941 speech and core principles the Allies claimed to be fighting for, contrasting with the totalitarian Axis powers.
The front features a formal military currency design with fine crosshatch background pattern in tan/beige tones, prominent denomination displays in the center and all four corners, and ornamental circular medallions with filigree scrollwork in each corner. The back displays a central shield or heraldic crest design rendered in light green/teal, surrounded by geometric border patterns with repeating wavy lines at top and bottom, and the Four Freedoms inscribed in the four corners. No portraits or specific landmarks are depicted; instead, the design emphasizes formal heraldic and propagandistic symbolism appropriate to military currency of the period.
Front side: 'ALLIED MILITARY CURRENCY' (English); '10' (denomination); 'ISSUED IN ITALY' (English); 'LIRE' (Italian currency); 'SERIES 1943' (English); Serial number 'A15180588 A'. Back side: 'FREEDOM OF SPEECH' (corner inscription); 'FREEDOM OF RELIGION' (corner inscription); 'FREEDOM FROM WANT' (corner inscription); 'FREEDOM FROM FEAR' (corner inscription).
Intaglio (engraved) printing, evidenced by the fine crosshatch patterns, sharp line definition in the ornate borders, and crisp inscription rendering visible in both the front and reverse sides. This was the standard security printing technique for Allied Military Currency notes of this period, typically produced by the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing or contracted security printers.
This note is cataloged as Pick P-M13a, with a known variant P-M13b also existing within the same base Pick number designation. The serial number observed is A15180588 A, featuring the letter prefix and suffix typical of this series. No specific distinguishing variety features (such as overprints, date variations, or signature differences) are evident from the visual analysis; this appears to be a standard example of the P-M13a variant.
