First set of Euros with image of Benedict XVI
From April 27, the Vatican City’s numismatic office is offering for sale the first complete series of Euros struck with the image of Benedict XVI. The sixth annual edition of Euros of the Holy See, they comprise 8 coins (2 and one Euro, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and one cent). On the reverse side there is a three-quarter head and shoulders of Benedict XVI surrounded with the inscription Città del Vaticano and the twelve stars of the European Union.
The coins have been produced in two versions: the first ‘fleur de coin’ of which 85,000 have been minted, is offered in a presentation box for 30 Euros. The second set, ‘belle épreuve’- 16,000 editions, is offered in a presentation box at the price of 140 Euros. With this de luxe edition comes a silver medal of St. Matthew the Evangelist. The Vatican issued the first commemorative coins of the pontificate of Benedict XVI in December 2005.
On December 29, 2000, the Holy See signed a monetary agreement with Italy as part of the Monetary Commission of the European Union which gives the Vatican State the right to mint the euro as official currency in a limited monetary quota.
