View source for Vatican City 2005-R 50 euro

[[Image:Vatican S59-1705.jpg|550px|thumb|Sincona sale 59, lot 1705]]

This specimen was lot 1705 in Sincona sale 59 (Zurich, October 2019), where it sold for 550 CHF (about US$666 including buyer's fees). The catalog description<sup>[1]</sup> noted, <blockquote>"''ITALY | Vatican - Church State, Benedikt XVI. 2005-2013. 50 Euro 2005 R, Roma. Taufe Christi. Polierte Platte. FDC. In Etui.'' (Vatican City, Benedict XVI, 2005-13, fifty euro of 2005, Rome mint. Baptism of Christ. Choice Proof, In box.)"</blockquote> 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 Benedict 2005-13 honoring scenes from the New Testament, in this case St. John baptising Christ. While coins up to two euro are legal tender throughout Europe, larger coins are valid only in their country of issue.

''Recorded mintage:'' 3,044.

''Specification:'' 15 g, .917 fine gold, 28 mm diameter, this specimen 15.03 g.

''Catalog reference:'' Fr-444, KM-393. 

''[[Bibliography|Source:]]''
* 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. 
* 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. 
* Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, ''Standard Catalog of World Coins, 2001-Date, 13th ed.,'' Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2018. 
* <sup>[1]</sup>Richter, Jurg, ''Sincona Auction 59: Gold and Silver Coins and Medals; Coins and Medals from Switzerland,'' Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2019.

''Link to:''
* [[Vatican City 1985 500 lire|1985 500 lire]]
* [[Vatican City 2001-R 100000 lire|2001 100,000 lire]]
* [[Vatican City 2004-R 20 euro|2004-R 20 euro, David slaying Goliath]]
* [[Vatican City 2004-R 50 euro|2004-R 50 euro, judgement of Solomon]]
* [[Vatican City 2007-R 20 euro]] Benedict XVI/Eucharist
* [[Coins and currency dated 2005]]
* return to coins of the [[Vatican]]

[[Category:Selections from Sincona sale 58, 59, 60, 61]][[Category: Coinage of the Euro Zone]]