Vatican lira

Infobox Currency
currency_name_in_local = lira vaticana it icon
image_1 = 500lirevaticano.jpg
image_title_1 = 500 lire
iso_code = VAL
using_countries = VAT, ITA, SMR
euro_replace_non_cash = 1 January 1999
euro_replace_cash = 1 January 2002
ERM_since = 13 March 1979, 25 November 1996 ¹
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 = 1936.27 lire
subunit_ratio_1 = 1/100
subunit_name_1 = centesimo
symbol = ₤, £ or L
plural = lire
plural_subunit_1 = centesimi
frequently_used_coins = 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 lire
rarely_used_coins = 10, 20 lire
obsolete_notice = Y
footnotes =

1. indirectly (1:1 peg to ITL)

The lira (plural "lire") was the currency of the Vatican City between 1929 and 2002.

History

The Papal States, by then reduced to a smaller area close to Rome, used its own lira between 1866 and 1870, after which it ceased to exist. In 1929, the Lateran Treaty established the State of the Vatican City and, according with 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 = 1936.27 lira. It has its own set of euro coins.

Coins

In 1929, copper 5 and 10 centesimi, nickel 20 and 50 centesimi, 1 and 2 lire, and silver 5 and 10 lire coins were introduced. 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, 2, 5 and 10 lire. The sizes of these coins was reduced in 1951. In 1955, stainless steel 50 and 100 lire were introduced, followed by aluminium-bronze 20 lire in 1957 and silver 500 lire in 1958. The 1 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 and 1000 lire in 1985 and 1997, respectively.

ee also

* Vatican euro coins
* Philatelic and Numismatic Office of the Vatican City State
* Economy of the Vatican City

References

*numis cite SCWC|date=1991

External links

Standard numismatics external links
world_coin_gallery_1_url = Vatican
world_coin_gallery_1_name = Vatican City
banknote_world_1_url =
banknote_world_1_name =
dollarization_1_url =
dollarization_1_name =
gfd_1_url = Vatican
gfd_1_name = Vatican City
gfd_data_1_url =
gfd_data_1_name =
show_gfd_excel = Y