Vatican euro coins
Encyclopedia
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 the Vatican is not a member of the European Union
.
.
. They were issued only in collector sets and bore an extreme markup with the 2002 collector set costing well over a thousand euro.
in April 2005, the Vatican
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
.
. 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
.
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 the Vatican has not already released a €2 commemorative of another subject.
Philatelic and Numismatic Office of the Vatican City State
The Philatelic and Numismatic Office of the Vatican City State is responsible for issuing Vatican postal stamps and Vatican coins.While Vatican stamps may only be used within the city of Rome, and the quantity of euro coins is limited by treaty with Italy , Vatican coins and stamps serve as an...
and minted by Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato
Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato
The Italian Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato , founded in 1928, is situated at the Piazza Giuseppe Verdi in Rome...
(IPZS), in Rome, Italy. The euro is the official currency of the Vatican City
Vatican City
Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
, although the Vatican is not a member of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
.
Vatican euro design
For images of the common side and a detailed description of the coins, see euro coinsEuro coins
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...
.
First series (2002–2005)
The initial series of Vatican euro coins featured an effigy of Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
. They were issued only in collector sets and bore an extreme markup with the 2002 collector set costing well over a thousand euro.
Second series (2005–2006)
Following the death of Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
in April 2005, the Vatican
Vatican City
Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
issued special coins during the period of Sede vacante
Sede vacante
Sede vacante is an expression, used in the Canon Law of the Catholic Church, that refers to the vacancy of the episcopal see of a particular church...
depicting the emblem of the Apostolic Chamber
Apostolic Camera
The Apostolic Camera, or in Latin Camera Apostolica or Apostolica Camera, is the central board of finance in the Papal administrative system, which at one time was of great importance in the government of the States of the Church, and in the administration of justice, led by the Camerlengo of the...
(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
Eduardo Martínez Somalo
Eduardo Martínez Somalo is a Spanish Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church.-Early life and ordination:Martínez Somalo was born in the small town of Baños de Río Tobía in La Rioja, Spain, and had five brothers and four sisters...
.
Third series (2006–present)
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 XVIPope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
. The coins carry an inscription "Città del Vaticano" and the twelve stars of Europe
European symbols
A number of symbols of Europe have emerged throughout history. Depending on the symbol, they can apply to Europe as a whole, European unity or merely to the European Union...
. The details of this design are published in the Official Journal of the European Union
Official Journal of the European Union
The Official Journal of the European Union is the official gazette of record for the European Union . It is published every working day in all of the official languages of the member states. Only legal acts published in the Official Journal are binding.It was first published on 30 December 1952 as...
.
Circulating Mintage quantities
| Face Value | €0.01 | €0.02 | €0.05 | €0.10 | €0.20 | €0.50 | €1.00 | €2.00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 6,000 | 6,000 | 6,000 | 6,000 | 6,000 | 6,000 | 6,000 | 6,000 |
| 2003 | *** | *** | *** | *** | *** | *** | *** | *** |
| 2004 | *** | *** | *** | *** | *** | *** | *** | *** |
| 2005 | *** | *** | *** | *** | *** | *** | *** | *** |
| 2005 SV | *** | *** | *** | *** | *** | *** | *** | *** |
| 2006 | *** | *** | *** | *** | *** | *** | *** | *** |
| 2007 | *** | *** | *** | *** | *** | *** | *** | *** |
| 2008 | 6,400 | 6,400 | 6,400 | 6,400 | 6,400 | 6,400 | 6,400 | 6,400 |
| 2009 | 6,400 | 6,400 | 6,400 | 6,400 | 6,400 | 6,400 | 6,400 | 6,400 |
| 2010 | *** | *** | *** | *** | *** | 2,184,704 | *** | *** |
| 2011 | ** | ** | ** | ** | ** | 2,184,704 | ** | ** |
Future changes to national sides
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:- Article 5. Changes to the national sides of regular euro coins intended for circulation:
- "... the designs used for the national sides of the euro coins intended for circulation denominated in euro or in cent should not be modified, except in cases where the Head of State referred to on a coin changes ... A temporary vacancy or the provisional occupation of the function of Head of State should not give the right to change the national sides of the regular euro coins intended for circulation."
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
€2 commemorative coins
€2 commemorative coins are special euro coins minted and issued by member states of the eurozone since 2004 as legal tender in all eurozone member states. The coins typically commemorate the anniversaries of historical events or draw attention to current events of special importance...
Sede Vacante coins would also be possible, if the Sede Vacante period occurs in a year in which the Vatican has not already released a €2 commemorative of another subject.