Italian Colony, Umberto I (1889 - 1900), 5 LIRE/TALLERO, 1891. Silver. Obv.: Crowned bust right. Rv.: Spread eagle standing on scepter & scabbard. Eritrea, located on the Red Sea coast, was a sleepy little area until the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869. Suddenly, Eritrea was adjacent to the world's busiest shipping lane. Italy went in with Europe's blessing to consolidate the area into an Italian territory. Eritrea was controlled by Italy from 1890 until 1941. Rare.