Vatican coins with B16
no longer just collectors' item
The circulating 50-centime coin.
ROME, July 22 (Translated from ASCA) -The Vatican has started to circulate a new coin worth 50 centimes (half euro) featuring the profile of Benedict XVI, giving the coins back as change to customers within the Vatican, from its famous pharmacy to its gas stations.
It is the first time since the Vatican joined the rest of the European Union in using the euro in January 2002 that the Vatican is circulating its coins normally - rather than merely minting them for collectors.
This is being done under a convention signed by the Vatican with the EU in December 2009, which committed the Vatican to circulate its own euros at nominal value and allows the Vatican to double its coinage for 2010, to 2.3 million euros, of which it is obliged to circulate at least 51% normally, at nominal value.
Previously, Vatican coins have been minted only for collectors, representing a significant source of income for the world's smallest state.
About two million of the 5-centime coins have been minted, and so far, change given to Vatican customers has been limited to two coins per person.
The first euros were minted by the Vatican in 2002-2003. Until now, these coins have merely been collectors' items. Right photos, the John Paul II euros; left photos, the Benedict XVI euros.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 24/07/2010 11:42]