The publication in Italian and English, which retraces the exhibition of the same title, aims to raise awareness and appreciation of a unique and unparalleled heritage preserved in the Historical Archives of theIstituto degli Innocenti: children's recognition signs, small objects worn upon their arrival at the historic Hospital and once necessary for future recognition by their families.

Through text and images, the volume thus recounts the function and use over the centuries of these personal markings, bearers of the unique vicissitudes of each child and his or her family. A heritage to be protected, enhanced and passed on to new generations. In the second part of the volume, a number of children's stories from the Historical Archives have been collected, each accompanied by the image of the identifying mark of belonging, the result of the photographic campaign carried out by the Institute to valorize these objects.

The publication And the Other Half I'll Serve. The Signs of Recognition of the Ospedale degli Innocenti can be purchased at the Museum's Bookshop with a minimum donation of 15 euros, to be donated to the Fondazione Istituto degli Innocenti Ets, or it can be requested to be shipped by writing to segreteria.fondazione@istitutodeglinnocenti.it, upon payment of the cost of the volume and shipping costs.

The exhibition-visitable from Nov. 4, 2022 until Sept. 30, 2023-is located within the historical section (basement) of the Museo degli Innocenti in Florence. It collects a selection of coins and medals, but also votive accessories such as rosaries, medallions and crosses, or general use items such as jewelry, buttons and ribbons.

The exhibition will also include a space dedicated to younger children in which, through the projection of animated slides, Tino il Nocentino, one of the protagonists of La moneta spezzata: una storia di Tino il Nocentino, the publication in Italian and English (with illustrations by Simone Frasca and texts by Sara Marconi) designed specifically to accompany the visit of the youngest children and realized thanks to the support of the Fondazione Istituto degli Innocenti Ets, takes shape and speaks.