Vatican euro coins are issued by the Philatelic and Numismatic Office of the Vatican City State and minted by Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato (IPZS), in Rome, Italy. The euro is the official currency of the Vatican City, although Vatican City is not a member of the Eurozone or the European Union. The euro has been the official currency of Vatican City since 2002. Before that, the Vatican lira was the official currency.
For images of the common side and a detailed description of the coins, see euro coins.
The initial series of Vatican euro coins featured an effigy of Pope John Paul II. They were issued only in collector sets and bore an extreme markup with the 2002 collector set costing well over a thousand euro. [1]
Following the death of Pope John Paul II in April 2005, Vatican City issued special coins during the period of Sede vacante depicting the emblem of the Apostolic Chamber (i.e. two crossed keys beneath an umbraculum, or umbrella) and the coat of arms of the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, at the time Cardinal Eduardo Martínez Somalo. [2]
€ 0.01 | € 0.02 | € 0.05 |
---|---|---|
Insignia of the Apostolic Chamber and the coat of arms of the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church | ||
€ 0.10 | € 0.20 | € 0.50 |
Insignia of the Apostolic Chamber and the coat of arms of the Cardinal Chamberlain | ||
€ 1.00 | € 2.00 | € 2 Coin Edge |
for a total of 12 stars | ||
Insignia of the Apostolic Chamber and the coat of arms of the Cardinal Chamberlain |
When the new pope was elected, the third series of Vatican euro coins were issued on 27 April 2006 and feature the effigy of Pope Benedict XVI. The coins carry an inscription "Città del Vaticano" and the twelve stars of Europe. The details of this design are published in the Official Journal of the European Union. [3]
A series of Vatican euro coins featuring effigies of Pope Francis was released in March 2014. [4] Three different images of Francis were used. [5]
As a result of Pope Francis no longer permitting that his effigies be used on coins, starting March 2017, the eight denominations of Vatican euro coins no longer bore the Pope's image and now feature his papal coat of arms. [6]
€ 0.01 | € 0.02 | € 0.05 |
---|---|---|
Coat of arms of Pope Francis and European Union stars | ||
€ 0.10 | € 0.20 | € 0.50 |
Coat of arms of Pope Francis and European Union stars | ||
€ 1.00 | € 2.00 | € 2 Coin Edge |
for a total of 12 stars | ||
Coat of arms of Pope Francis and European Union stars |
Face Value [7] | €0.01 | €0.02 | €0.05 | €0.10 | €0.20 | €0.50 | €1.00 | €2.00 | €2.00CC |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2002 | 2,000 | 2,000 | 2,000 | 2,000 | 2,000 | 2,000 | 2,000 | 2,000 | ** |
2003 | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | ** |
2004 | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * |
2005 | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * |
2005 SV | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | — |
2006 | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * |
2007 | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * |
2008 | 6,400 | 6,400 | 6,400 | 6,400 | 6,400 | 6,400 | 6,400 | 6,400 | 6,084 |
2009 | 6,400 | 6,400 | 6,400 | 6,400 | 6,400 | 6,400 | 6,400 | 6,400 | 6,084 |
2010 | * | * | * | * | * | 2,190,704 | * | * | * |
2011 | * | * | * | * | * | 2,174,197 | * | * | 9,000 |
2012 | * | * | * | * | * | 1,604,690 | * | * | 6,000 |
2013 | * | * | * | * | * | 1,941,484 | * | * | 20,000 |
2014 | * | * | * | * | * | 1,488,376 | * | * | * |
2015 | * | * | * | * | * | 2,021,682 | * | * | * |
2016 | * | * | * | * | * | 2,207,676 | * | * | * |
2017 | * | * | * | * | * | 2,132,411 | * | * | * |
2018 | * | * | * | * | * | 2,147,169 | * | * | * |
2019 | * | * | * | * | * | 2,157,248 | * | * | * |
* Small quantities minted for sets only **Coin not minted | |||||||||
The Commission of the European Communities issued a recommendation on 19 December 2008, a common guideline for the national sides and the issuance of euro coins intended for circulation. One section of this recommendation stipulates that:
This change means that there will be no more "Sede Vacante" series of the regular Vatican euro coins, although the issue of commemorative "Sede Vacante" series (usually gold and silver coins), having legal tender in Vatican City only, remains possible. Circulating €2 commemorative Sede Vacante coins would also be possible, if the Sede Vacante period occurs in a year in which Vatican City has not already released two €2 commemorative coins of another subject. Such a coin was indeed minted for the Sede Vacante of 2013.
In addition, in 2014 the Vatican issued commemorative €20 and €50 coins honoring Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II respectively. [5] Both popes were canonized in April 2014. [8]
The economy of Vatican City is mainly supported financially by the sale of stamps, coins, medals, and tourist mementos as well as fees for admission to museums and publication sales. Vatican City employed 4,822 people in 2016.
There are eight euro coin denominations, ranging from one cent to two euros. The coins first came into use in 2002. They have a common reverse, portraying a map of Europe, but each country in the eurozone has its own design on the obverse, which means that each coin has a variety of different designs in circulation at once. Four European microstates that are not members of the European Union use the euro as their currency and also have the right to mint coins with their own designs on the obverse side.
Belgian euro coins feature only a single design for all eight coins: the portrait or effigy of the King of the Belgians. Previously, all Belgian euros depicted King Albert II and his royal monogram. Current coins depict King Philippe. Also part of the design by Jan Alfons Keustermans are the 12 stars of the EU and the year of imprint.
A commemorative coin is a coin issued to commemorate some particular event or issue with a distinct design with reference to the occasion on which they were issued. Many coins of this category serve as collector's items only, although some countries also issue commemorative coins for regular circulation.
Sede vacante is a term for the state of a/an (arch)diocese while without a/an (arch)bishop. In the canon law of the Catholic Church, the term is used to refer to the vacancy of the (arch)bishop's or Pope's authority upon his death or resignation.
The lira or pound was the currency of Malta from 1972 until 31 December 2007. One lira was divided into 100 cents, each of 10 mils. After 1986 the lira was abbreviated as Lm, although the original £M sign continued to be used unofficially. In English the currency was still frequently called the pound even after its official English language name was changed to lira.
The lira was the currency of Italy between 1861 and 2002. It was introduced by the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy in 1807 at par with the French franc, and was subsequently adopted by the different states that would eventually form the Kingdom of Italy in 1861. It was subdivided into 100 centesimi, which means "hundredths" or "cents". The lira was also the currency of the Albanian Kingdom from 1941 to 1943.
Philippine peso coins are issued by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for circulation in the Philippines and are currently available in seven denominations. The Philippine peso has been in use since Spanish rule.
There have been three sets of coins in Ireland since independence. In all three, the coin showed a Celtic harp on the obverse. The pre-decimal coins of the Irish pound had realistic animals on the reverse; the decimal coins retained some of these but featured ornamental birds on the lower denominations; and the euro coins used the common design of the euro currencies. The pre-decimal and original decimal coins were of the same dimensions as the same-denomination British coins, as the Irish pound was in currency union with the British pound sterling. British coins were widely accepted in Ireland, and conversely to a lesser extent. In 1979 Ireland joined the Exchange Rate Mechanism and the Irish pound left parity with sterling; coin designs introduced after this differed between the two countries.
The Vatican post office has operated its own postal service and issued its own postage stamps since 1929.
The lira 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.
€2 commemorative coins are special euro coins that have been minted and issued by member states of the eurozone since 2004 as legal tender in all eurozone member states.
The Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State is the legislative body of Vatican City. It consists of a president, who also holds the title of President of the Governorate of Vatican City State and serves as the head of government of Vatican City, as well as seven other cardinals appointed by the pope for five-year terms.
The 50 euro cent coin (€0.50) has a value of half a euro and is composed of an alloy called nordic gold. All euro coins have a common reverse side and country-specific national sides. The coin has been used since 2002, with the present common-side design dating from 2007.
The 1 euro coin (€1) is a euro coin with a value of one euro. It is made of two alloys: the inner part of cupronickel, the outer part of nickel brass. All coins have a common reverse side and country-specific national sides. The coin has been used since 2002, with the present common side design dating from 2007.
The 2 euro coin (€2) is the highest-value euro coin and has been used since the introduction of the euro in 2002. The coin is made of two alloys: the inner part of nickel brass, the outer part of copper-nickel. All coins have a common reverse side and country-specific national sides. The coin has been used since 2002, with the present common side design dating from 2007.
The Papal Mint is the pope's institute for the production of hard cash. Papal Mint also refers to the buildings in Avignon, Rome, and elsewhere that used to house the mint.
The Philatelic and Numismatic Office of the Vatican City State, managed by Poste Vaticane, is responsible for issuing Vatican postal stamps and Vatican coins.
Before the introduction of the euro, the current eurozone members issued their own individual national coinage, most of which featured mint marks, privy marks and/or mint master marks. These marks have been continued as a part of the national designs of the euro coins, as well. This article serves to list the information about the various types of identifying marks on euro coins, including engraver and designer initials and the unique edge inscriptions found on the €2 coins.