| Local Name: | lira vaticana |
| Local Name Lang: | it |
| Image 1: | 500 Lir Vatican City.jpg |
| Image Title 1: | 500 Lire |
| Iso Code: | ITL |
| Name Abbr: | VAL |
| Using Countries: | None, previously: |
| Erm Since: | 13 March 1979, 25 November 1996 |
| Erm Withdraw: | 16 September 1992 (Black Wednesday) |
| Erm Fixed Rate Since: | 31 December 1998 |
| Euro Replace Non Cash: | 1 January 1999 |
| Euro Replace Cash: | 1 January 2002 |
| Erm Fixed Rate: | 1,936.27 Lire |
| Subunit Name 1: | centesimo |
| Subunit Inline Note 1: | Subunits were abolished after WWII |
| Symbol Comment: | None official, see Italian lira |
| Plural: | lire |
| Plural Subunit 1: | centesimi (c.) |
| Used Banknotes: | Italian lira banknotes |
| Frequently Used Coins: | 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000 Lire |
| Rarely Used Coins: | 1 Lira, 2, 5, 10, 20 Lire |
| Issuing Authority: | Banca d'Italia |
| Obsolete: | yes |
The lira (plural lire; abbreviation: VAL) was the currency of the Vatican City between 1929 and 2002. It was not a separate currency but an issue of the Italian lira; the Banca d'Italia produced coins specifically for Vatican City.
The Papal States, by the late 1860s, was reduced to a small area close to Rome, used its own lira between 1866 and 1870 as a member of the Latin Monetary Union. Upon the conclusion of the Risorgimento, the state, and its currency, ceased to exist. In 1929, the Lateran Treaty established the State of the Vatican City and, according to the terms of the treaty, a distinct coinage was introduced, denominated in centesimi and lire, on par with the Italian lira. Italian coins and banknotes were legal tender in the Vatican City. The Vatican coins were minted in Rome and were also legal tender in Italy and San Marino.
In 2002, the Vatican City switched to the euro at an exchange rate of 1 euro = 1,936.27 Lire. It has its own set of euro coins.
The development of Vatican coins largely mirrored the development of the Italian lire coins.
In 1929, copper c.5 and c.10, nickel c.20 and c.50, 1 Lira and 2 Lire, silver 5 Lire and 10 Lire, and gold 100 Lire coins were introduced. In 1936, the gold content of 100 Lire coins was decreased from 0.2546 to 0.1502 troy ounces (from 7.92 to 4.67 grams).[1] In 1939, aluminium bronze replaced copper and, in 1940, stainless steel replaced nickel. Between 1941 and 1943, production of the various denominations was reduced to only a few thousand per year.
In 1947, a new coinage was introduced consisting of aluminium 1 Lira, 2 Lire, 5 Lire and 10 Lire. The sizes of these coins were reduced in 1951. In 1955, stainless steel 50 Lire and 100 Lire were introduced, followed by aluminium-bronze 20 Lire in 1957 and silver 500 Lire in 1958. The 1 Lira and 2 Lire ceased production in 1977, followed by the 5 Lire in 1978. Aluminium-bronze 200 Lire were introduced in 1978, followed by bi-metallic 500 Lire and 1,000 Lire in 1985 and 1997, respectively. The 50 Lire and 100 Lire were reduced in size in 1992.
Beginning in 1967, the Vatican began issuing coins using Roman numerals for the year of issue, as opposed to the more common Arabic numerals.
Vatican lire coins were discontinued after the advent of the euro.
Vatican City has frequently issued its coins in yearly changing commemorative series, featuring a wide variety of themes. While most of these were sold in the form of uncirculated mint sets, a portion of Vatican coins were released into general circulation.
There was no official release of coins this year, and they do not appear in the Mint of Rome's records. However, a very small number of copper coins have appeared on the market.
There are two versions explaining the origin of these coins. The first version suggests that by the time of Pope Pius XI's death on February 10, 1939, Vatican City had only minted coins of 1937, although dies for the 1938 100 lire gold, 10 centesimo copper, and 5 centesimo copper had already been made. From each of these prepared dies, one example in the normal metal was struck for the King of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele III of Savoy.
The second version suggests that the minted quantity of copper coins for 1938 was destroyed due to the Pope's death, but several copies were purposefully conserved for the King of Italy's collection.[2] This version is more likely, as the machines of that era required multiple cycles and the loading of numerous planchets in order to manufacture coins.
Both versions imply that the coins were conserved or minted for the King of Italy, who was an enthusiastic coin collector. The king collected coins for 60 years and kept them in Forte Antenna, a Roman refuge. During World War II, in anticipation of the offensive of the Allied Expeditionary Forces led by Dwight D. Eisenhower, the boxes of coins were transported at the sovereign's will to Pollenzo, a safer royal residence in Piedmont. However, in September 1943, the proclamation of the Italian Social Republic caused the royal government to lose control over the assets in the North, resulting in a long period of movement and thefts of the collection. Wehrmacht troops decided to move the collection to Germany. The crates were transported to Munich on German trucks. Mussolini was worried about the news of the "theft" of the coins and requested their return from Adolf Hitler himself. The collection was returned to Italy in early January 1944, but many boxes were opened, damaged, and some almost empty.[3] The Italian Police Headquarters officially announced that German soldiers carried out the break-in. It is possible that soldiers used the coins stolen from the collection to buy alcohol or ice cream, which resulted in the coins being circulated.
Until recently, only seven coins of 10 centesimi Vatican City in 1938 have been graded and certified, and most show signs of circulation. And now, almost 85 years later, a coin was received at the PCGS office in Los Angeles, which achieved a grade of MS65BN (a coin that never has been in circulation and has an attractive luster) .
This coin is a rare and valuable piece of numismatic history.
| Image | Value | Technical Parameters | Description | ||||||
| Obverse | Reverse | Diameter | Mass | Composition | Obverse | Reverse | Years of Issue | Papacy | |
| 5 Centesimi | 20mm | 3.25 grams | 95% Copper | Crowned Shield | Olive Branch | 1929–1937 | Pius XI | ||
| 2.95 grams | Bronzital | 1939–1941 | Pius XII | ||||||
| 2.95 grams | Bust of Pius XII | Dove | 1942–1946 | ||||||
| 10 Centesimi | 22mm | 5.4 grams | 95% Copper | Crowned Shield | Bust of St. Peter | 1929–1937 | Pius XI | ||
| 4.9 grams | Bronzital | 1939–1941 | Pius XII | ||||||
| 4.9 grams | Bust of Pius XII | Dove | 1942–1946 | ||||||
| 20 Centesimi | 21mm | 4.1 grams | Nickel | Crowned Arms | Bust of St. Paul | 1929–1937 | Pius XI | ||
| 1939–1941 | Pius XII | ||||||||
| 4 grams | Acmonital | Crowned Shield | Justice with law tabets | 1942–1946 | |||||
| 50 Centesimi | 24mm | 6 grams | Nickel | Crowned Arms | Saint Michael | 1929–1937 | Pius XI | ||
| 1939–1941 | Pius XII | ||||||||
| 6 grams | Stainless Steel | Crowned Shield | Justice with law tabets | 1942–1946 | |||||
| 1 Lira | 27mm | 8.1 grams | Nickel | Crowned Arms | St. Mary standing atop globe | 1929–1937 | Pius XI | ||
| 26.65mm | 7.86 grams | Acmonital | Crowned Arms | 1940–1941 | Pius XII | ||||
| Justice with law tabets | 1942–1946 | ||||||||
| 1.25 grams | Italma | 1947–1949 | |||||||
| Holy Door | 1950 | ||||||||
| 17mm | 0.6200 grams | Temperance standing pouring libation in bowl | 1951–1956 | ||||||
| 2 Lire | 29mm | 10 grams | Nickel | Crowned Arms | Lamb on shepard's shoulders | 1929–1937 | Pius XI | ||
| 1939 | Pius XII | ||||||||
| 10.2 grams | Stainless Steel | Crowned Arms | Lamb on shepard's shoulders | 1940–1941 | |||||
| Crowned Shield | Justice with law tabets | 1942–1946 | |||||||
| 24mm | 1.75 grams | Aluminum | 1947–1949 | ||||||
| Pius XII bust | Dove and St. Peter's Basilica Dome | 1950 | |||||||
| 18mm | Crowned Shield | Fortitude standing with lion at feet | 1951–1958 | ||||||
| 5 Lire | 23mm | 5 grams | 0.8350 Silver | Bust of Pius XI | St. Peter in a boat | 1929–1937 | Pius XI | ||
| Arms of Cardinal Eugenio | Dove within half sun | 1939 | Sede Vacante | ||||||
| Bust of Pius XII | St. Peter in a boat | 1939–1941 | Pius XII | ||||||
| Caritas figure with children | 1942–1946 | ||||||||
| 26.5mm | 2.5 grams | Aluminum | Bust of Pius XII | 1947–1949 | |||||
| Pope with staff within Holy Door | 1950 | ||||||||
| 20mm | 1 gram | Justice standing with sword and scales | 1951–1958 | ||||||
| 10 Lire | 27mm | 10 grams | 0.8350 Silver | Bust of Pius XI | St. Mary holding infant | 1929–1937 | Pius XI | ||
| Arms of Cardinal Eugenio | Dove within half sun | 1939 | Sede Vacante | ||||||
| Bust of Pius XII | St. Mary holding infant | 1939–1941 | Pius XII | ||||||
| Caritas figure with children | 1942–1946 | ||||||||
| 29mm | 3 grams | Aluminum | 1947–1949 | ||||||
| Pope with staff within Holy Door | 1950 | ||||||||
| 23mm | 1 gram | Prudence standing | 1951–1958 | ||||||
| 20 Lire | 21.25mm | 3.600 grams | Aluminum-Bronze | Caritas figure with children | 1957 | ||||
| 21.25mm | 5.600 grams | 1958 | |||||||
| 50 Lire | 24.8mm | 6.200 grams | Stainless Steel | Spes standing with large anchor | 1955–1958 | ||||
| 100 Lire | 23.5mm | 8.8 grams | 0.9000 Gold | Bust of Pius XI | Jesus with child at feet | 1929–1935 | Pius XI | ||
| 20.5mm | 5.19 grams | 1936–1938 | |||||||
| Bust of Pius XII | 1939–1941 | Pius XII | |||||||
| Caritas figure with children | 1942–1949 | ||||||||
| Crowned Pius XII | Opening of Holy Door | 1950 | |||||||
| Bust of Pius XII | Caritas figure with children | 1951–1956 | |||||||
| Crowned Shield | 1957–1958 | ||||||||
| 27.75mm | 8.000 grams | Stainless Steel | Fides with large cross | 1955–1958 | |||||
| 500 Lire | 29mm | 11.000 grams | 0.8350 Silver | Crowned Shield | 1958 | ||||