Vatican City 2016-R 200 euro
This specimen was lot 1739 in SINCONA Auction 97 (Zürich, May 2025), where it sold for 3,000 CHF (about US$4,352 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALIEN Vatikan, Franziskus, 2013-2025. 200 Euro 2016, Sehr selten. Nur 499 Exemplare geprägt. Polierte Platte. Im Originaletui mit Zertifikat. (Italy, Vatican City, Francis I, 2013-25, two hundred euro of 2016. Very rare. Only 499 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. Other coins in the series honoring Catholic virtues included KM 441/Fr-463 (Faith, issued 2012), KM 454/Fr-469 (Hope, issued 2013), KM 472 (Charity, issued 2014), KM 483/Fr-481 (Prudence, issued 2015), KM 505/Fr-494 (Fortitude, issued 2017) and KM 517 (Temperance, issued 2018).
Recorded mintage: 499.
Specifications: 40 g, 0.917 fine gold, 38.5 mm diameter, designed by Silvia Petrassi and Chiara Principe, this specimen 40.00 g.
Catalog reference: KM 494, Fr-488.
- 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.
- 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.
- [1]Richter, Jurg, SINCONA Auction 97: World and Swiss Coins and Medals, SINCONA Bullion Auction, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2025.
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