Catalog
5 Lire Italian occupation WWII
| Issuer | Cassa Mediterranea di Credito per l'Egitto |
|---|---|
| Year | 1942 |
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| Composition | Paper |
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| Obverse description | At left centre, an intaglio bust vignette of Emperor Augustus (Octavian) in classical armour faces right within a decorative frame; the institution name CASSA MEDITERRANEA DI CREDITO PER L'EGITTO runs across the upper centre in both Italian and Arabic script. The denomination BUONO PER / Cinque / LIRE EG. is rendered in large italic letterpress at centre, flanked by fine guilloche scrollwork and foliate borders, with an ornate oval cartouche at right serving as the serial number panel. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse lettering | CASSA MEDITERRANEA DI CREDITO PER L'EGITTO صندوق البحر المتوسط التسليفي لمصر BUONO PER Cinque LIRE EG. 5 LIRE EG. جنيهات مصرية هذا السند يسوى خمسة جنيهات مصرية IL PRESENTE BUONO DEVE ESSERE ACCETTATO IN PAGAMENTO PER IL SUO VALORE NOMINALE من واجب قبول هذا السند في الدفع بالقيمة الاسمية المدونة فيه |
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| Comments |
The Cassa Mediterranea di Credito per l'Egitto was a purpose-built Italian occupation currency authority, created in anticipation of an Axis conquest of Egypt that never materialized at scale. These notes were printed in Rome in 1942 — the same year Rommel's advance stalled at El Alamein — and were intended to replace Egyptian pounds once Axis forces consolidated control of the Nile Delta.
They never circulated in Egypt in any meaningful volume. The military reversal meant most of the print run remained unissued, which partly explains current availability. The denomination structure — denominated in Lire rather than local currency — reflects how completely the Italians had planned the administrative takeover.