Here’s another interesting disk from my bag o’ cheapies: 200 Italian lira. Pre-euro, of course, and in this case 1993, and a special commemorative. Or not so special, considering that 170 million of them were made, and that they’re a aluminum-bronze combination. I’ve seen the obverse bust simply referred to as an “allegory,” so presumably that’s Italia personified.

The one to have would be the proof version, of which only 6,500 were made. In any case, the coin commemorates the 70th anniversary of the Italian Air Force (since 1946, the Aeronautica Militare Italiana, but before that the Regia Aeronautica Italiana), or maybe just military aviation in that country.

All kinds of interesting detail. But when I think of Italian military aviation, I think of Italo Balbo, who didn’t found the independent Italian Air Force, but built it up as an instrument of fascist power. Even so, he has a street named after him in downtown Chicago to this day.

Next, another sort of flying: the common swallow, or hirundo rustica. Who would put a swallow on their coins?

The newly independent Slovenia, that’s who. This is a 2 tolarja piece, and during the pre-euro period that country was fond of animals on its small coins. I see a fish, a fly, an owl, and others, all helpfully with their scientific names.

During its first year of issue,1992, the 2-tolarja piece was a brass coin with a non-proof mintage of over 5 million. The tolar used to be the country’s base unit, with tolarja as a plural. Clearly a cognate with dollar, a word that gets around.