Country: Italy

Denomination: 500 Lire

Years issued: 1982–2001

Material:

Center: Bronze (gold color)

Ring: Stainless steel (silver color)

Diameter: 25.8 mm

Weight: 6.8 g

Type: First circulating bimetallic coin in the world

Design Details

Obverse (Portrait side)

Inscription: REPVBBLICA ITALIANA

Portrait of a classical female figure (Italy personification)

Reverse (Value side)

Value: L.500

Design: Quirinal Palace (Italian President’s residence)

Year visible under the building

Historical Importance

Introduced in 1982

Became the world’s first mass-circulation bimetal coin

Withdrawn after Italy adopted the Euro in 2002

Very popular with collectors and nostalgia buyers