Item number: M431

Year: AD 1940-1944

The results after XRF testing (M431-1)

The results after XRF testing (M431-2)

Material: Silver (M431-1)／Silver-gilt (M431-2)

Size: 60.9 x 15.1 x 0.9 mm (M431-1)／13.8 x 12.2 x 1.7 mm (M431-2)

Weight: 2.95 g (M431-1)／0.85 g (M431-2)

Manufactured by: Italian Mint (Zecca di Stato), Rome

Provenance: La Galerie Numismatique 2025

This set comprises the Star and the Order of Skanderbeg conferred by Vittorio Emanuele III, King of the Italian–Albanian Personal Union, consisting of the sash badge and the breast star. A miniature version was intended for wear with formal civilian attire, such as white tie.

The sash badge is fashioned as the Albanian double-headed eagle, its outline in gilt, the plumage rendered in red, and the talons in red enamel. At the centre of the eagle’s breast is a circular medallion bearing the celebrated goat-horned Helmet of Skanderbeg, set against blue enamel and encircled by a wreath of green enamelled oak leaves. The original helmet, produced by Italian craftsmen around AD 1560, is preserved in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, with a replica exhibited in the National Historical Museum of Albania. Above the eagle’s heads is a gilt star backed by a ring designed to attach to the suspension ring of the sash.

The so-called horned helmet of Skanderbeg has long been regarded as a relic of the Albanian national hero Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg, although its true provenance remains contested. The helmet is made of a white metal alloy and is almost hemispherical in form; its rim is adorned with a brass band, while the central zone is encircled by a gilt-copper inscription band, the letters of which are separated by small gilded rose motifs. At the top is a cast bronze goat’s head with prominent horns, intended to symbolise strength and royal authority. The piece weighs approximately three kilograms. According to the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna and relevant scholarship, the helmet was more likely produced by Italian craftsmen in the late fifteenth century, and no definitive evidence links it directly to Skanderbeg himself. Nevertheless, from AD 1593 onwards it appears in the armoury records of Ambras Castle, listed together with two swords as belonging to Skanderbeg, and is said to have been brought to Italy by his family after his death. It was later acquired by Archduke Ferdinand II of Habsburg, who, in light of his victories in the Great Turkish War, considered himself a successor to Skanderbeg. In AD 1806 the helmet was transferred with the Habsburg collections to Vienna, where it eventually became part of the holdings of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

Various interpretations have been proposed concerning the symbolic significance of the goat and its horns. Some scholars regard the goat as an important emblem of authority among ancient Illyrian tribes, signifying martial prowess and legitimate rule; in Greek mythology, horns connote divine power, as seen in the attributes of Zeus; the imagery may also recall the “Two-Horned One” (ذو القرنين) mentioned in the Qurʾān—a righteous figure believed to protect the innocent at the end of days, traditionally associated with Alexander the Great, Cyrus II, or Heraclius. During the First Siege of Krujë in AD 1450, Skanderbeg led Albanian forces in successfully defending the fortress against a vast Ottoman army dispatched by Sultan Mehmed II; despite lasting nearly half a year, the stronghold never fell. The defence of Krujë shocked Europe and secured for Skanderbeg exceptional prestige within the Christian world. According to one legend relating to this siege, Skanderbeg ordered candles to be tied to the horns of a large herd of goats and drove them down a mountainside at night. The Ottomans, mistaking the lights for an advancing Albanian force, left their camp in haste. Once they had moved far enough and their ranks descended into confusion, Skanderbeg launched a real attack and inflicted heavy losses. It is said that he added a goat’s head ornament to his helmet thereafter in commemoration of this stratagem. A different legend recounts that when traversing rugged mountain terrain, Skanderbeg—whose helmet bore a goat’s head and horns—appeared from afar like a wild goat. The Ottomans, unable to imagine that any man could advance through such inhospitable ground, failed to raise the alarm, enabling Skanderbeg to manoeuvre behind them and strike unexpectedly.

Today, the horned helmet of Skanderbeg remains a central element in the Albanian national coat of arms, standing alongside the black double-headed eagle.

The sash is black with two dark-red stripes and an additional narrow red stripe along each edge. The Grand Cross grade displays three gilt helmet devices on the sash, the Grand Officer two, the Commander one, the Officer one in silver, and the Knight none. Ceremonial usage follows the general European convention: the Grand Cross badge is worn from a sash extending from the right shoulder to the left hip, accompanied by the breast star on the left side of the chest; the Grand Officer and Commander grades are worn from a neck-ribbon with a star placed either on the sash or on the right breast; the Officer grade is worn on the left breast as a pin-back cross; and the Knight’s badge is worn on a ribbon on the lapel.

The breast star is eight-pointed. The central medallion of the Grand Cross star features the Albanian double-headed eagle in gilt with red enamel, set upon blue enamel. The surrounding green enamel ornament, which appears indistinct due to reduction in size, is presumed—given the gilt construction—to represent the Savoyan knot-work ring. From the Grand Officer grade downward, the breast star differs from that of the Grand Cross: its central motif depicts the Helmet of Skanderbeg.

The first model of the Order of Skanderbeg was instituted by King Zog I as an order of merit recognising distinguished contributions to the Crown or to society in civil, military, social, scientific, cultural, and economic fields. It originally comprised four grades: Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, and Knight. In AD 1939 an Officer grade was inserted between the Commander and Knight. The Officer-grade badge differs from the insignia of the other grades: it consists of a white-enamelled five-pointed star with a small ball at each of four points, surmounted by a circular medallion bearing the Albanian national emblem. The star is supported below by a wreath of green enamelled oak leaves and, at the base, two crossed sabres. The finial of the badge is the goat-horned Helmet of Skanderbeg. Surviving examples indicate that the breast stars of the first model were produced in silver or bronze.

The second model of the Order of Skanderbeg was introduced by Vittorio Emanuele III following the Italian occupation and his accession as King of Albania. Although the structure of the order was retained, the green oak-leaf wreath was replaced by the Savoyan knot-work ring bearing the House of Savoy’s motto “FERT”, a term of disputed meaning, possibly derived from Latin with the sense of “to endure”. The same motto continues to be used by the Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation. The ring begins and ends with a rose, and beneath it appear crossed fasces symbolising authority and sovereignty. In the Officer grade of the second model, the replacement of the wreath is accompanied by the omission of the small balls at the star points. The Grand Cross breast star of the second model is of gold, and the lower grades are in silver.

The third model of the Order of Skanderbeg was created by the People’s Republic of Albania and subsequently the Socialist People’s Republic of Albania, following the Soviet style of socialist orders of merit. The royal order was abolished and replaced by a new order of the same name. Its design consists of a five-pointed star superimposed upon a ten-pointed star, with a laurel wreath extending beneath the arms of the five-pointed star. The central medallion bears a bust of Skanderbeg. The first class is gilt with a dark-red enamelled star; the second class is silver with a gilt laurel wreath beneath a dark-red enamelled star; and the third class is entirely silver without enamel. This model was manufactured in Markneukirchen, East Germany.

The fourth model of the Order of Skanderbeg was instituted by the Republic of Albania in AD 1996 after the end of the communist regime; it is ungraded. The insignia comprises two superimposed five-pointed stars with a central shield bearing the bust of Skanderbeg. The outer edges of the stars are encircled by a wreath of green oak leaves surmounted by Skanderbeg’s helmet.

Skanderbeg (Skënderbeu) is Albania’s foremost national hero and the emblematic figure of resistance to the expansion of the Ottoman Empire. Born Gjergj Kastrioti, he was taken as a youth to the Ottoman court, where he received military training and was granted the honorific “Iskander Bey”, meaning “Lord Alexander”. In AD 1443 he left the Ottoman army and returned to Albania, uniting the Albanian clans and leading nearly twenty-five years of armed resistance. He repeatedly defeated Ottoman forces far greater in number, preserving Albania’s de facto autonomy. His legacy as the symbol of anti-Ottoman resistance has made him the central figure of Albanian national identity.

Ahmed Zogu, born into an influential landowning family in northern Albania, rose rapidly in the political vacuum following the First World War. During the principality he served as Minister of the Interior and subsequently as Prime Minister, effectively controlling the state administration. During the brief republican period he became Albania’s first President, consolidating his authority by strengthening the executive and diminishing the influence of tribal leaders and political opponents. In AD 1928 he transformed the republic into a kingdom and proclaimed himself King Zog I, initiating reforms aimed at modernisation, institutional development, and centralisation. These reforms, however, depended heavily on Italian financial and military assistance, rendering Albania increasingly subordinate to Rome. Italy invaded in AD 1939, forcing Zog I into exile; shortly thereafter Vittorio Emanuele III was proclaimed King of Albania, forming the nominal Italian–Albanian Personal Union. This arrangement persisted until Italy’s capitulation in AD 1943 and the subsequent German occupation, after which the monarchy was abolished with the establishment of a communist government.

Vittorio Emanuele III, who reigned from AD 1900 to 1946, was one of the longest-serving monarchs in Italian history. His reign encompassed the Italo-Turkish War, the First World War, and the post-war social crises, and he was hailed as the “Victor King” after AD 1918. However, his decision in AD 1922 not to deploy force against Mussolini’s Blackshirts enabled the Fascist Party to seize power, a choice regarded as pivotal in the establishment of fascist dictatorship. During the 1930s he remained nominally head of state, although real authority lay with Mussolini. Following Italy’s defeat in the Second World War and the rise of republican sentiment, he abdicated in AD 1946 and went into exile in Egypt, where he died in Alexandria in AD 1947.

The history of the Roman Mint may be traced to around 269 BC. In AD 1911 a modern state mint (Zecca di Stato) was inaugurated in Rome in the presence of King Vittorio Emanuele III. In AD 1978 it merged with the Istituto Poligrafico dello Stato to form the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, responsible for the production of coins, passports, and postage stamps and providing minting services to foreign entities including the Vatican, San Marino, and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.

物件編號: M431

年代: 公元 1940-1944 年

XRF分析結果: (M431-1)

XRF分析結果: (M431-2)

材質: 銀 (M431-1)／銀質鍍金 (M431-2)

尺寸: 60.9 x 15.1 x 0.9 mm (M431-1)／13.8 x 12.2 x 1.7 mm (M431-2)

重量: 2.95 g (M431-1)／0.85 g (M431-2)

製造地: 義大利國家鑄幣廠(Zecca di Stato)，羅馬

來源: 錢幣藝廊 2025

這是斯坎德培勳章套組，由義大利－阿爾巴尼亞君合國國王維克多·伊曼紐三世頒發，分為綬帶勳章和胸前星章。迷你版用以著非軍服正裝(例如燕尾服)時配戴。

綬帶勳章章飾呈阿爾巴尼亞雙頭鷹，輪廓為金質，身披紅羽，鷹爪亦為紅色琺瑯。鷹胸中央置一圓形章，中央為著名的「斯坎德培羊角頭盔」，置於藍色琺瑯之上，周圍環繞以綠橡葉花環。此頭盔原件約製於公元1560年，由義大利工匠打造，目前收藏於維也納藝術史博物館，阿爾巴尼亞國家歷史博物館亦有展出複製品。雙頭鷹首之上有金星，金星後有環，用以與綬帶環相扣。

斯坎德培羊角頭盔被長期視為阿爾巴尼亞民族英雄喬治·卡斯翠奧蒂·斯坎德培的遺物，但其真實來源仍存有爭議。此盔以白色金屬製成，形制近半球形，邊緣飾以銅帶，中央環繞鎏金銅製銘文帶，字母間以金色玫瑰花飾分隔，頂部鑄有象徵力量與王權的山羊頭與羊角裝飾，總重約三公斤。依據維也納藝術史博物館與相關研究，此盔更可能為15世紀後期義大利工匠所製，其與斯坎德培本人是否有直接關聯並無確證。然而，自公元1593年起，該盔與兩把劍便在阿姆布拉斯堡的武器庫文獻中被標示為「斯坎德培之物」，據稱於斯坎德培逝世後由其家人帶至義大利，後來輾轉被哈布斯堡家族的斐迪南二世大公納入收藏。由於在大土耳其戰爭中的勝利，斐迪南二世大公自視為斯坎德培的繼承人。後於公元1806年隨哈布斯堡家族移至維也納，最終成為維也納藝術史博物館的典藏品。有觀點認為山羊是古伊利里亞部族的重要權威標誌，象徵領袖的勇武與統治正當性；在希臘神話中，羊角則象徵宙斯等神祇的神力；也可能與《古蘭經》中的「雙角者」(ذو القرنين)形象相關，是一位傳說中在末日庇護平民的仁者，長期以來被認為指稱亞歷山大大帝、居魯士二世或希拉克略；而在公元1450年的「第一次克魯亞圍城戰」(First Siege of Krujë)中，斯坎德培率領阿爾巴尼亞軍隊在克魯亞要塞成功抵禦鄂圖曼蘇丹穆罕默德二世派出的龐大軍隊，歷時近半年仍未被攻破。克魯亞的守城勝利不僅震動歐洲，也使斯坎德培在基督教世界獲得極高的聲望。傳說在此戰中，於某次夜襲時，斯坎德培命士兵將點燃蠟燭綁在成群山羊的角上，並將牠們從山坡驅趕而下。鄂圖曼軍誤以為這是一支規模龐大的阿爾巴尼亞軍隊的進攻，遂倉促出營迎戰。然而當敵軍離開營地足夠遠、陷入混亂時，斯坎德培才率軍真正發起攻擊，成功重創鄂圖曼部隊。據說在這場巧妙的夜戰後，他便在自己的頭盔上加鑄一只山羊頭鐵飾，以紀念這一次的勝利。在另一則傳說中，斯坎德培穿越崎嶇山地時，因他戴著飾有山羊頭與羊角的頭盔，從遠處看去宛如山中野山羊，而鄂圖曼軍無法想像有人能從如此艱險的地形逼近，於是沒有提高警覺，讓斯坎德培得以迂迴至敵軍背後，出其不意地展開襲擊。時至今日，斯坎德培羊角頭盔仍為阿爾巴尼亞國徽中的關鍵元素，與黑色雙頭鷹並列。

綬帶為黑色，上有兩道深紅色條紋，邊緣另各有一道極窄的紅色條紋。大十字級於綬帶上有三枚羊角頭盔金飾，大軍官級有二枚，指揮官級有一枚，軍官級有一枚銀飾，騎士級無飾。禮儀則與一般歐洲國家類似，大十字級勳章佩戴於從右肩延伸至左髖的綬帶上，星章則同時佩於左胸前。大軍官級與指揮官級以領綬配勳章於領下，再佩星章於大綬或右胸上。軍官級則以別針佩勳章於左胸前，騎士級則為襟綬。

胸前星章呈八角星形，—大十字星章之中央章飾為雙頭阿爾巴尼亞鷹，輪廓為金質，填以紅色琺瑯，置於藍色琺瑯之上，周圍環繞的綠色琺瑯圖樣或因縮小而漫漶，因章體為金質而推測可能是薩伏依結繩環。大軍官級以降，星章設計與大十字星章不同，其中央章飾為斯坎德培頭盔。

最初第一型的斯坎德培勳章，為索古一世設立的功績勳章，用以表彰個人在文職、軍職、社會、科學、文化、經濟等方面，對王室或社會的傑出貢獻。共分四級：大十字星章(Grand Cross)、大軍官章(Grand Officer)、指揮官章(Commaner)、騎士章(Knight)，公元1939年於指揮官級與騎士級之間增設軍官級(Officer)。軍官章的章體與其他層級不同，為一枚白色琺瑯五角星，在五角星的四個角落各有一個小球。五角星上疊加一枚飾有阿爾巴尼亞國徽的圓形徽章。五角星下方以環繞的綠色琺瑯橡葉花環承托，最下方是兩把交叉的軍刀。勳章頂飾則為「斯坎德培羊角頭盔」。從現存實物來看，第一型的星章均為銀或銅質。

第二型斯坎德培勳章為維克多·伊曼紐三世於佔領並即位為阿爾巴尼亞國王後，沿用斯坎德培勳章制度，只是將綠橡葉花環代替以薩伏依結繩環，繩結間有薩伏依王室格言「FERT」，意義頗有爭議，可能是拉丁文中的「承擔」，至今仍為薩伏依王室「聖母領報至高騎士團」(Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation)的格言。繩環的起始與終點各有一玫瑰，繩環下方有交錯的束棒(fasces)，象徵權力與威信。第二型的軍官章除圖樣的替換外，星芒末端省略小球。第二型的大十字星章為金質，以下均為銀質。

第三型斯坎德培勳章為阿爾巴尼亞人民共和國與阿爾巴尼亞社會主義人民共和國，依蘇維埃政權社會主義功績勳章的形式，廢除舊政權斯坎德培勳章，設立同名的新斯坎德培勳章。勳章外型為一枚五角星覆於十角星之上，五角星的臂下有月桂花環延伸。中心為圓形章，載有斯坎德培的半身像。一級勳章鍍金，五角星以深紅琺瑯裝飾。二級勳章為銀質，並於深紅琺瑯五角星之下加飾鍍金月桂花環。三級勳章則全為銀質，不施琺瑯。本式樣的勳章於東德馬克諾伊基興(Markneukirchen)製作。

第四型斯坎德培勳章為共產政權終結後的阿爾巴尼亞共和國於公元1996年設立，不分級。章體由兩枚五角星相互疊覆而成，中央為載有斯坎德培胸像的盾形章。星角外圍飾以綠橡葉花環，花環頂部置斯坎德培頭盔。

斯坎德培(Skënderbeu)，是阿爾巴尼亞最重要的民族英雄，被視為抵抗鄂圖曼帝國擴張的象徵。本名喬治·卡斯翠奧蒂(Gjergj Kastrioti)，他年少時被送往鄂圖曼宮廷，受軍事訓練並獲授「伊斯坎德爾貝伊」(Skanderbeg)之名，意為「亞歷山大大帝之爵」。公元1443年，他脫離鄂圖曼軍隊返回故土，迅速整合阿爾巴尼亞各部族，領導近25年的武裝抵抗，成功多次擊退規模遠超自身的鄂圖曼軍，維持阿爾巴尼亞的實質自主。因此後世被視為抵抗鄂圖曼帝國擴張的象徵，是阿爾巴尼亞最重要的民族英雄。

艾哈邁德·索古出身於北阿爾巴尼亞頗具勢力的地主貴族家庭，於第一次世界大戰後的權力真空中迅速崛起。其於阿爾巴尼亞公國時期擔任內政部長，後成為公國總理，實際上掌握國家行政大權；在短暫的共和國階段，他更進一步成為阿爾巴尼亞的首任總統，透過增強行政權力、削弱部族首領與反對派的方式，穩固其政治基礎。公元1928年，他推動將政體由共和國改為王國，自立為國王索古一世，並推行以國家現代化、制度化和中央集權為目標的改革。然而，這些改革建立在對義大利高度依賴的財政與軍事援助之上，使阿爾巴尼亞在外交與經濟上愈加受制於羅馬。義大利遂於公元1939年藉機入侵，索古一世被迫流亡；不久之後，義大利國王維克多·伊曼紐三世即位為阿爾巴尼亞國王，形成名義上的「義大利－阿爾巴尼亞君合國」。此狀態一直延續到公元1943年義大利投降、德軍接管，最終在二戰結束後由共產政權建立新政府，徹底終結阿爾巴尼亞的君主制。

維克多·伊曼紐三世(Vittorio Emanuele III)，公元1900年至1946年在位，是義大利歷史上在位時間最長的國王之一。任內歷經義土戰爭、第一次世界大戰與戰後社會危機，並在公元1918年勝利後獲稱「勝利之王」。然而，他在公元1922年選擇不對墨索里尼的黑衫軍採取武力抵制，允許法西斯黨接管政府，被視為法西斯獨裁得以建立的關鍵推手。公元1930年代，他名義上仍是國家元首，但實權被墨索里尼完全壟斷。二戰後隨著義大利戰敗與共和派興起，他於公元1946年退位並流亡埃及，於公元1947年在亞歷山卓逝世。

羅馬的鑄幣廠歷史可以追溯到約公元前269年的羅馬時代。公元1911年，現代化的國家鑄幣廠(Zecca di Stato)於國王維克多·伊曼紐三世的見證下於羅馬落成。公元1978年，其與義大利國家造幣局(Istituto Poligrafico dello Stato)合併，專司硬幣、護照和郵票的生產，並為梵諦岡、聖馬力諾與馬爾他騎士團等國外政權提供服務。