The Holy See Search
back
riga

 

        Euro

     

                 [Updated: 20.02.2002]


 


THE VATICAN STAMPS

  First Serie "Ordinary Postage" in Euro [English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish]

Our Lady in the Vatican Basilica

  First Special Serie in Euro [English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish]

Third Centenary of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy

  First Serie "Automatic Vending Stamps" in Euro [English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish]

The Four Evangelists


VATICAN


The Vatican City State, like the other twelve member countries of the European Union (België/Belgique, Deutschland, Ellas, España, France, Ireland, Italia, Luxembourg, Nederland, Österreich, Portugal, Suomi/Finland), Monaco and San Marino, has put into circulation the eight different Euro coins. The Vatican banknotes will not be produced.

The eight denominations of Euro coins vary in size, colour and thickness according to their values, which are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 Eurocent or Eur 1 and Eur 2. One Euro is divided into 100 cent (Eurocent).

Milled edges have been introduced to make it easier - especially for those with impaired sight - to recognise different values. The euro coins were also produced according to advanced technical
specifications that make reproduction extremely difficult and easy to detect. Particular care has been taken to include unique security features on the € 1 and  € 2 coins. Sophisticated bi-metal technology has been incorporated into the € 1 and € 2 coins which, together with lettering around the edge of the € 2 coin, prevents counterfeiting. You will find lettering around the edge of the € 2 coin. The euro coins incorporate the safest machine-readable characteristics and can be used in vending machines throughout the euro area, irrespective of the Member State which issued them.

Luc Luycx of the Royal Belgian Mint won a European wide competition to design the euro coins; one side of each coin is common to all euro area countries, the reverse side of each coin shows individual designs relating to the respective Member State. Euro coins can be used anywhere in the euro area, regardless of their national sides.

The common side of the eight coins shows one of three designs common to all 12 euro area countries showing different maps of Europe surrounded by the 12 stars of the European Union.

The country specific side of the coins shows designs relating to the respective Member State, surrounded by the 12 stars of the European Union.

The Numistatic Office of the Governatorate of the Vatican City State is glad to inform you that from March 1, 2002, the Vatican Euros will come into circulation.

The country specific side of the Euro coins shows the profile of His Holiness John Paul II, Sovereign of the Vatican City State, on the coin sides of  10  20  and  50 cents and of  and  2   €.  This portrait has been drawn by the sculptor Prof. Guido Veroi. The image has been engraved by Uliana Pernazza.


Year 2002
24th Anniversary of the Pontificate of His Holiness John Paul II
Vatican Euro coins production

1. The Monetary Agreement between the Vatican City State and, on its behalf the Holy See and the Italian Republic, on behalf of the European Community on 29 December 2000 [AAS, Supplement, Year LXXI, No. 11, 5 November 2000] (considering that as a result of the introduction of the Euro it has become necessary to renogociate the current Convenzione monetaria tra la Repubblica Italiana e lo Stato della Città del Vaticano, concluded on 3 December 1991; following the Decision of the Council of the European Union of 31 December 1998, in which the Council laid down arrangements for negotiating and concluding the agreement concerning monetary relations with the Vatican City State), entitles the Vatican City State to issue Euro coins from 1 January 2001 for a maximum annual face value of Eur 670.000 (in addition to the maximum amount laid down, the Vatican City State may issue coins totalling Eur 201.000, when the Holy See is vacant, in each Holy Jubilee Year and in the year of the opening of a Ecumenical Council).

2. According to the Monetary Agreement No. CCCLVII of 26 July 2001 [AAS, Supplement, Year LXXII, No. 12, 26 July 2001] the Vatican City State shall be entitled to use the Euro as its official currency (in accordance with Regulations (EC) No. 1103/7 and No. 974/98).

3. The President of the Governatorate of the Vatican City State has issued the Ordinance No. CCCLXX of 18 December 2001  [AAS, Supplement, Year LXXII, No. 25, 18 December 2001] , with which the Vatican City State shall notify advance the artistic features of the national side of the Euro coins, for the year 2002.

Art. 1 entitles "the production and introduction of monetary coins in Euro, for the year 2002, with the technical and artistic characteristics according to the decision of the Council of the European Union and the shared artistic features of the national side laid down in the following article 2".

Art. 3 entitles that the coins, as specified in Art. 2, will be issued, for the year 2002, in an amount of No. 80.000 peaces for each coin, with a maximum value amount of € 310.400.:

  • 2 Euro: € 160.000

  • 1 Euro: € 80.000

  • 50 Eurocent: € 40.000

  • 20 Eurocent: € 16.000

  • 10 Eurocent: € 8.000

  • 5 Eurocent: € 4.000

  • 2 Eurocent: € 1.600

  • 1 Eurocent: € 800

The Vatican Numismatic, thanks to its glorious and prestigious past with more than 1 thousand year of minting, opens itself to the future and to the hope, opens itself to the Europe of the unified coin, and participates to a great project which has become a reality.

The Numismatic Office of the Governatorate of the Vatican City State proposes to the public, according to the consolidated tradition, the divisional serie of the coins of € 2 and of € 1, and those of 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 Eurocent, in the version Fior di Conio, a classical piece for collection, from 1 March 2002. Maximum amount laid down: 65.000 series. Price: € 12,00 (+ postal expenses). Minting: IPZS (Italy).

From next June 2002, the divisional serie in Euro will be on sale also in the Fondo Speccio (Proof) version, with elegance presented with an exclusive Celebrative Silver Coin (The Europe, a project for peace and brotherhood).

To better show the characteristics of the coins, here below you can see the images of the different models of coins used to produce the Vatican Euros, according to Art. 2 of the Ordinance of the President of the Governatorate of the Vatican City State, of 18 December 2001.

  Decision taken by the Council of the European Union on December 31, 1998, regarding the monetary relations of the Community with the Vatican City State (1999/98/CE) [ Italian].

At the conclusion of Mass on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, and on the 35th World Day of Peace, on January 1, 2002, John Paul II after the recital of the Angelus Domini, has addressed to the faithful and to the pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter's Square regarding the introduction of the Euro (the original version in Italian, English, Portuguese, Spanish and German):

 

English version - 01.01.2002

I extend a special greeting of peace and of prosperity to the Nations of the European Union that today, with a single new currency, have reached an historical goal. I very much hope that this will favour the full development of the citizens in the various countries. May justice and solidarity grow throughout Europe for the advantage of the entire human family!

Italian version - 01.01.2002

Rivolgo uno speciale augurio di pace e di prosperità ai Paesi dell'Unione Europea, che oggi, con la moneta unica, raggiungono un traguardo storico. Auspico che ciò favorisca il pieno sviluppo dei cittadini dei vari Paesi. Crescano in tutta Europa la giustizia e la solidarietà, a vantaggio dell'intera famiglia umana!

Portuguese version - 01.01.2002

Dirijo particulares votos de paz e de prosperidade aos Países da União Europeia, que hoje, com a moeda única, atingem uma meta histórica. Desejo que isso favoreça o pleno desenvolvimento dos cidadãos dos vários Países. Cresçam em toda a Europa a justiça e a solidariedade, em favor de toda a família humana!

Spanish version - 01.01.2002

Expreso un especial deseo de paz y prosperidad para los países de la Unión europea, que hoy, con la moneda única, alcanzan una meta histórica. Espero que esto favorezca el desarrollo pleno de los ciudadanos de los diversos países. Ojalá que aumenten en toda Europa la justicia y la solidaridad, en beneficio de toda la familia humana.

German version - 01.01.2002

Einen besonderen Wunsch des Friedens und Wohlergehens richte ich an die Länder der Europäischen Union, die heute mit der Einheitswährung ein historisches Ziel erreicht haben. Ich hoffe, daß dies die umfassende Entwicklung der verschiedenen Länder fördern wird. Gerechtigkeit und Solidarität mögen in ganz Europa wachsen, zum Wohl der ganzen Menschheitsfamilie!

 


 

Common side and country-specific side
of the Vatican Euro coins


2 Euro

 


Diameter (mm):
25.75
Thickness (mm): 2.20
Weight (g): 8.50
Shape: Round
Colour: Outer part: white; inner part: yellow
Composition: Outer part: copper-nickel; inner part: three layers: nickel brass, nickel, nickel brass
Edge: Edge lettering, fine milled

1 Euro

 


Diameter (mm):
23.25
Thickness (mm): 2.33
Weight (g): 7.50
Shape: Round
Colour: Outer part: yellow; inner part: white
Composition: Outer part: nickel brass; inner part: three layers: copper-nickel, nickel, copper-nickel
Edge: Interrupted milled

50 Eurocent

 


Diameter (mm):
24.25
Thickness (mm): 2.38
Weight (g): 7.80
Shape: Round
Colour: Yellow
Composition: Nordic gold
Edge: Shaped edge with fine scallops

20 Eurocent

 


Diameter (mm):
22.25
Thickness (mm): 2.14
Weight (g): 5.74
Shape: Spanish flower shape
Colour: Yellow
Composition: Nordic gold
Edge: Plain

10 Eurocent

 


Diameter (mm):
19.75
Thickness (mm): 1.93
Weight (g): 4.10
Shape: Round
Colour: Yellow
Composition: Nordic gold
Edge: Shaped edge with fine scallops

5 Eurocent

 


Diameter (mm):
21.25
Thickness (mm):
1.67
Weight (g):
3.92
Shape:
Round
Colour:
Red
Composition:
Copper-covered steel
Edge:
Smooth

2 Eurocent

 


Diameter (mm):
18.75
Thickness (mm):
1.67
Weight (g):
3.06
Shape:
Round
Colour:
Red
Composition:
Copper-covered steel
Edge:
Smooth with a groove

1 Eurocent

 


Diameter (mm):
16.25
Thickness (mm):
1.67
Weight (g):
2.30
Shape:
Round
Colour:
Red
Composition:
Copper covered steel
Edge:
Smooth
 

    [English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish]


Return to:

- Index Documentation
 
[English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish]

- Index Holy See Press Office
 
[English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish]

 

top