Country: Italy
Issuer: Banco di Napoli
SCWPM Catalog No.: P-S856
Date: ND (1908-1921)
Denomination: 50 Lire
Condition: Extra Fine, light vertical fold, 5 very small pinholes.
Description: Black on ornate red and gray underprinting, denomination at center, portrait of S. Rosa at lower left, red-orange seal lower center. Back dark blue on light blue underprinting, portrait of Minerva lower right. The Banco di Napoli, which is still in business today, has a rich history. The origins of banking in Italy go back to the late 16th century with 8 institutions which primarily offered loans on pawned goods to assist the poor. In 1794 these banks were combined to form the Banco Nazionale di Napoli and then in 1808 was restructured and renamed Banco dell Due Sicilie by Joachim Murat, the King of Naples. When Italy was unified as a republic in 1861 the bank took the name of Banco di Napoli, which issued this note. The Banco di Napoli issued banknotes until 6 May 1926. In an American connection, this bank opened an office in New York City in 1901, located in Manhattan on East 54th Street. The bank today in Italy is part of the Intesa-Sanpaolo Group.