Vatican lira

The lira was the money used in Vatican City from 1929 to 2002. It was not its own special money but was actually a special version of the Italian lira. Coins for Vatican City were made by the Banca d'Italia, which is the bank of Italy. The lira helped Vatican City use money just like other places, making trade and everyday purchases possible during those years.

History

The Papal States once had its own money called the lira from 1866 to 1870. After that, it stopped existing. In 1929, the Lateran Treaty created the Vatican City. The Vatican started using its own coins, which were the same value as the Italian lira. These coins were made in Rome and could also be used in Italy and San Marino.

In 2002, the Vatican City began using the euro instead. The exchange rate was 1 euro for 1,936.27 Lire. Now, the Vatican has its own euro coins.

Coins

The Vatican made special coins that looked like Italian coins. In 1929, they started with coins made from different metals like copper, nickel, silver, and gold. Over the years, they changed the metals and sizes of the coins. For example, they switched from copper to aluminium bronze in 1939 and from nickel to stainless steel in 1940.

In later years, they added new coins made from aluminium and stainless steel. By 1967, they began using Roman numerals (like I, II, III) instead of normal numbers (1, 2, 3) to show the year on the coins. These Vatican coins were stopped when the euro became the new money. Many of these coins were made each year with different designs to remember special events. Some of these coins were sold in special sets, while others were used as everyday money.

Officially "unissued" coins of 1938

In 1938, Vatican City did not officially release any coins, and they are not listed in the records of the Mint of Rome. However, a very small number of copper coins from that year have appeared on the market.

There are two ideas about where these coins came from. One idea is that by the time Pope Pius XI passed away in February 1939, only coins from 1937 had been made, even though tools for making 1938 coins had been prepared. The other idea is that the coins made for 1938 were destroyed after the Pope's death, but a few were kept for the King of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele III, who loved collecting coins.

These coins were kept in a place called Forte Antenna near Rome. During World War II, they were moved to a safer place in Piedmont called Pollenzo. Later, during the war, the collection was taken to Germany but was returned to Italy in 1944. Some boxes were opened and damaged during this time.

Until recently, only seven coins from 1938 had been examined and certified, and most looked like they had been used. Recently, a coin was examined in Los Angeles and was found to be in excellent condition, making it a very rare and valuable piece of history.

Circulating coins from Pius XI to Pius XII papacies (1929–1958)

The Vatican City used a special type of coin during the time from 1929 to 1958. These coins were made by the Banca d'Italia for Vatican City, but they were actually a version of the Italian lira, which was the money used in Italy.

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
						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
						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
					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 shepherd's shoulders	1929–1937	Pius XI
								1939	Pius XII
				10.2 grams	Stainless Steel			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			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
				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