Item Description
 
The spirit of unity, courage, and unwavering resolve has long defined military forces throughout history. Modern American service members embrace the creed of leaving no one behind, ensuring that every soldier returns home with honor. Ancient warriors upheld similar codes of loyalty and sacrifice. The 2 oz Morte Prima di Disonore Silver Round embodies one of the most powerful and uncompromising mottos ever associated with battlefield honor.
 
Round Highlights
 
Arrives individually sealed in protective flips or in tubes of up to 10 rounds
 
Part of the Latin Allure series from Intaglio Mint
 
Struck in high relief for enhanced depth and visual impact
 
Contains 2 troy ounces of .999 fine silver
 
Obverse features a skull wearing a Roman military helmet with Latin inscription
 
Reverse showcases a winged skull pierced by three swords
 
“Morte Prima di Disonore” translates from Latin as “Death Before Dishonor.” The phrase reflects the belief that it is more honorable to face death than to surrender or compromise one’s integrity. While commonly associated with Ancient Rome, similar ideals were upheld in other warrior cultures, including Japan’s Bushido code.
 
Though historians debate whether the exact phrase was formally used in antiquity, the underlying principle was deeply rooted in Roman military ethos during the Republic era. Roman leaders such as Catiline championed the concept of resisting defeat at any cost rather than accepting humiliation.
 
The obverse of this 2 oz silver round presents a left-profile human skull wearing a Roman helmet. A short sword pierces through the top of the helmet and exits through the mouth of the skull, reinforcing the uncompromising message. Along the lower edge appears the inscription “Morte Prima di Disonore.”
 
On the reverse, a winged skull dominates the field in dramatic high relief. Three daggers thrust upward through the skull, while a banner beneath the design carries the English translation, “Death Before Dishonor.” The detailed strike and symbolic imagery combine to create a bold and commanding tribute to the enduring warrior code of honor.