Vatican City 2015-R 50 euro
This specimen was lot 2935 in Sincona sale 80 (Zürich, October 2022), where it sold for 1,000 CHF (about US$1,199 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALY | Vatican - Church State, Franziskus, seit 2013. 50 Euro 2015 / Anno III R, Roma. Auf den Schrein der heiligen Jungfrau. Nur 2'300 Exemplare geprägt. Polierte Platte. Im Originaletui mit Zertifikat. (Italy, Vatican City, Francis, since 2013, fifty euro of 2015, Rome mint, on the shrine of the Virgin Mary. Only 2,300 pieces struck. Choice Proof, In original box with certificate.)"
Coinage for the Vatican City began in 1929, struck at the Rome mint. Coins are issued for the Vatican City in symbolic amounts but as they are eagerly saved as souvenirs by tourists, they are not in short supply for collectors. This fifty euro commemorative is one of a series of gold issues struck for pope Francis honoring the shrine of the Virgin Mary. While coins up to two euro are legal tender throughout Europe, larger coins are valid only in their country of issue.
Recorded mintage: 2,300 proofs.
Specification: 15.00 g, 0.917 fine gold, 28 mm diameter. This specimen is 15.00 g.
Catalog reference: KM 480. Fr-484.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Gigante, Fabio, Gigante 2016: Catalogo Nazionale delle Monete Italiano Dal '700 All'Euro, 24a ed. Varese, Italy, 2015.
- Montenegro, Eupremio, Montenegro 2015: Manuale del Collezionista di Monete Italiane, 30 ed., Torino, Italy: Montenegro s.a.s., 2014.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 2001-Date, 13th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2018.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 80, World Coins and Medals, SINCONA Bullion Auction, World Banknotes, Coins and Medals from Switzerland, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2022.
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