Italian Lira

The Italian lira in the history of the italian Republic

The value of a collection dedicated exclusively to the Italian Lira, the currency that has marked the historical events and the passage of time in Italy until 2002, should be celebrated today by a unique collection, which pays tribute and remembers more than fifty years of our recent history. Officina della Medaglia has produced the eleven main coins of the Italian Republic with the authorization of the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The coins were minted in gold and silver, proof quality, limited editions and are available in the collection or individually.

Historical notes for italian lira

The Italian lira starts to circulate in Italy in the early eighteenth century during the Napoleonic era and at the same time of the advent of the italian tricolor flag.
The first official coins were minted by the Mint of Milan and Bologna and in 1807, in pieces of 40, 5 and 2 italian lira. Some time later were also minted 20 pounds coins  and 1 italian lira, 5 grams of weight and fineness of silver 900/1000.
The end of the Italian kingdom in the 1814, however, marked a break in the history of the use of the Italian lira, which then resumed its normal course with the unification of Italy under the Savoy.
Only in 1862, however, the italian lira has officially begun to circulate throughout the Italian territory, overcoming the differences of the pre-unitary states.
Several moments of difficulty and a reduction in value of the currency have alternated between the unification of Italy and the entrance of the country in the First World War, a period in which there was a massive shortage of metal.

From Italian Lira to Euro

From 1 January 2001 started to be used in Europe the new coin Euro and the use of the italian lira as the currency for payments ceased to exist.The conversion rate of 1 Euro is officially irrecabile to 1,936, 27 italian lira; in 1999 the Italian Mint has also ceased to mint coins in common use, while all the coins in circulation and benches were withdrawn in March 2002. Currently the Euro is the common currency of the European Union, including Italy and is in fact used by 500 million people around the world.

Farwell to the italian lira

To mark the official handover from the Italian lira to the Euro have been numerous events including the Farewell to the Pound, held in Rome February 28, 2002 at the Trevi Fountain (image). The ceremony was attended by famous perfoming artists as "ambassadors of the Italian lira", among them Alberto Sordi and Valeria Marini. They were accompanied by students from several schools of Rome, the band of the Carabinieri and the Children's Choir "Aurelian." During the same day  was also the last purchase made ​​with the Italian lira.

Are you a collector of italian lira

The interest of many experts and enthusiasts for the collecting of coins and in particular of the Italian lira, was born at the same time of the first coin minted, both for a sense of belonging to the country and for a pure interest to collecting them. During the time the collecting of coins becomes increasingly sectoral and scholars of numismatics ( from the greek: νομισματική ) began to make that a real field of study.
Several specialized encyclopedias and catalogs are born with descriptions and history of coins, now also available online. Who is interested in collecting coins use to care a lot of their conditions and their level of storage conditions; in a few cases coins are taken into account for their economic value of the currency .
Numismatics, for example, is a scientific study of coins and of their history in all forms and materials. Apart from the study of the Italian lira, numismatic is an ancient discipline that started with Julius Caesar, who began collecting coins from the first minted coin.

Looking for reproductions of Italian lira in silver or gold

Collecting silver and gold coins is nowadays an hobby and a special interest to study or even a way to highlight the investment value of these objects.The italian silver lira in particular, reproducted for the first time in 1950, is quite buyable and offers a good return on investment. Collecting reproductions of silver and gold Italian lira nowadays is not like handling a unique gold or silver coin minted in the ancient Greece or Rome, but it still shows a considerable interest in history and art history in particular. Silver is the same metal was used in ancient Rome for the first coins minted, thanks to its malleability and the cost is not excessive. Today, collectors of silver or gold Italian lira have the feeling of owning a true piece of gold or silver antiquity.

Why collect historical coins and italian lira?

Numismatics is not only what identifies the collecting of coins, including the italian lira, but it's a real science. The object of study is the coin and its correlates, such as medals, not just the Italian lira. People use to study the ages of use and coinage, the history, the links to economic and political events that are obviously always connected to it .
A coin, and the Italian lira is the proof, it is a piece of  history of the country to which it belongs, and who loves collecting coins is certainly an expert or a history, art and anthropology lover. In fact it is not simply a hobby or a way to purchase items of great historical and economic value, but also a way to collect works of art, especially when is about collecting silver or gold Greek and Roman coins in silver or gold. Since ancient times, in fact, the coins were minted with precious metals or gold, another reason to study not only the history of coins, but also the history of the materials, symbols and emblems.
In any case, currently, is well known and popular the hobby of collecting reproductions of the coins, like silver and gold Italian lira.

Curiosities

The Italian lira was born during a secret meeting

The official birth of the Italian lira is a historical event, important for the past and the present of Italy. The secret meeting has been followed by official communications and, in 2009 by celebrations for the 150 since its birth. The secret meeting took place exactly 28 September 1859 in Palazzo Loup, the former residence of the family of Loup, in Loiano, were Bettino Ricasoli, the Iron Baron who was mayor of Florence and the second President of the Council of the Kingdom 'Italy, met Luigi Carlo Farini, President of the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of Italy between 1862 and 1863, Marco Minghetti, Rodolfo Audinot, congressman and senator of the Kingdom and Lionetto Cipriani. In that meeting they decided to adopt the single currency in Italy, the italian lira. The Scanello Committee, places where you find the villa, organized the celebrations for the anniversary of 150 years of the birth of the Italian currency, in 2009.

How was it celebrated the Farewell to the Italian Lira?

On October 10, 2001 was presented in Rome a project that included a series of events dedicated to the Farwell of the Italian Lira.
In particular an opinion poll survey was commissioned by the "International Committee of the Third Millennium" to "Abacus" where they investigated what kind of impact would have caused the advent of the Euro in the italian public opinion. Moreover there was the project of the construction of a monument dedicated to the Italian lira which was anticipated by a competition for the construction of the sketch and received 2000 drafts. Moreover, in Rome, at the Palace of Diosuri was organized an exhibition of the Italian lira, in collaboration with the Ministry of Heritage and Culture; it was opened on December 3, 2001. The book "The golden italian lira - history, memories and emotions of our currency," created by "Editions Numismatic Collections" has been distributed for free during the various celebrations.

Who published the book "The Golden Italian Lira - History, emotions and memories of our money"?

The book "The Golden Italian Lira - History, emotions and memories of our currency" was published by the Numismatic Collections, along with the text "Money in Italy - The most beautiful coins of the ancient Italian States." The same company, which has been an official partner of the farewell celebrations dedicated to the Italian lira, conied also the Commemorative Medal of the European Constitution for the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.

Is there any monuments dedicated to the italian lira?

Certainly it does exist a monument dedicated entirely to our old currency and it was opened in Rieti, Piazza Cavour on March 1, 2003.
The "Italian lira monument" was designed by Daniela Fusco and produced by Foundries Caggiati of Parma, leader in the design and implementation of commemorative items; the material used was the very same coin, or actually 200 pounds of pennies, about 2,200,000.
The City of Rieti has made ​​the statue with the help of the Ministry of Heritage and Culture, the region of Lazio, the Savings Bank of Rieti SpA and Intesa Group, all those notifications are expressed in some bronze plaques affixed to the base of the statue.
One of the gravestones instead contains a dedication of the monument written by actress Sophia Loren, godmother, and the opening event of the project. The sentence reads: "Pound their deserved a monument, a sense of gratitude, but also to pass on to future generations a piece of history and Italian custom."
With regard to the statue instead, in addition to the face which is turned towards the river Velino, the symbol of the prosperity of Rieti, one of the foundations on which it rests, has embedded a series of coins depicting the history of Lira.
In 2008, the "Monument to the Pound" has been restored with the help of the Foundation Varro: money in the hands of the rear seat has a different statue.

Esiste una versione particolare della moneta da 5 lire, che è diversa da quella che fu coniata nel 1953.
Dal 1946 al 1957, infatti, ha circolato in Italia una moneta da 5 lire con l'immagine di un grappolo d'uva riprodotta su una delle due facce; la lega utilizzata era l'Italma, composta per il 96% da alluminio; per il 3,5% da magnesio e per il restante 0,3% da manganese (peso 2,5 gr, diametro 26,7). Gli autori, come per altre monete, sono stati G. Romagnoli e Piero Giampaoli, incisore.

Do you know the 5 italian lira coin, "Grapes" version?

There is a particular version of the 5 italian lira coin, which is different from the one was coined in 1953. From 1946 to 1957, in fact, the five italian lira coin has been circulating in Italywith the image of a bunch of grapes reproduced on a face. It was made of Italma, an alloy composed for 96% of aluminum, for 3.5% of magnesium and the remaining 0.3% of manganese (weight 2.5 g, diameter 26.7 cm). The authors, as for other currencies, have been G. Romagnoli and Peter Giampaoli, engraver.

Is there any illustrated history of the italian Lira?

Actually there is a well known book called: "Farwell to the italian lira: illustrated history of the coin that has accompanied for two hundred years the life of our country" The text is by Alfredo Taracchini while the design and editorial making of  is by Edition Pendragon, Bologna. Similarly there are many other books based on the Italian lira, talking about the history of the Italian lira , the accounting and about our economy.

Latest updates on the history of the Italian lira

For those seeking information on the monetary history of Italy and to investigate the history of the Italian lira is interesting to see the book "Monetary History of Italy. Lira and monetary policy from the European union". In this book you could find all the concepts and history of the Italian lira and the monetary politics from 1861 to 1998, just before the transition to the Euro. There are also several information about economics and economic history, monetary and fiscal variables of the Italian and international economy between the Kingdom of Italy and the transition to the single European currency. The book is suitable for an audience of scholars and experts, collectors or just curious; it is accompanied by images and stories of people who have been protagonists of the history of the Italian lira. You can here find lots of other books about the history of italian lira .