Italian lira coins were the coins of the Italian lira that served as Italy's currency from 1861 until 2001 when it was replaced by the Euro.

History

From 1980 until 2001, Lira 1 and Lire 2 coins were struck solely for collectors due to their low value, and in 1998 the Lire 5 was also sold for collectors only. Lire 10 and Lire 20 coins dated 2000 or 2001 were struck in sets only. The Lire 500 coin was the first bimetallic circulating coin, and was also the first circulating coin to feature Braille numerals (a Braille "L. 500" is on the upper rim of the coin's reverse, above the building).

Chart Value Image Specifications Description Minted Usage Common Reference Obverse Reverse Diameter Thickness Mass Composition Edge Obverse Reverse c.1 15 mm 0.78mm 1 g Bronze (1861-1918) c.2 20 mm 0.8mm 2 g Bronze (1861-1917) c.5 25 mm (1861-1918), 19.5 mm (1919-1943) 1.08mm 5 g (1861-1918), 3.25 g (1919-1939), 2.95g (1939-1943) Bronze (1861-1939), Aluminum-bronze (1939-1943) (1861-1943) c.10 30 mm (1862-1867), 30.5 mm (1893-1894), 30 mm (1911), 22.5 mm (1919-1943) 1.50mm 10 g (1862-1911), 5.4 g (1919-1939), 4.7 g (1939-1943) Bronze (1862-1939)Aluminum-bronze (1939-1943) (1862-1943) c.20 1.53mm Silver 1863-67Copper-nickel 1894–95, 1918–20Nickel 1908-38Stainless steel 1939-43 1863-1943 c.25 c.50 Silver 1861-1892Nickel 1919-38Stainless steel 1939-43 1862-1943 Lira 1 Silver 1862-1917Nickel 1922-38Stainless steel 1939-43Aluminum 1946–70, 1980-2001 1862–1970, 1980-2001 Lire 2 Silver 1862-1917Nickel 1923-39Stainless steel 1939-43Aluminum 1946–70, 1980-2001 1862–1970, 1980-2001 Lire 5 Silver 1862-1941Gold 1863-655 Lire Coins | Value of The Italian 5 Lira CoinsAluminum 1946-2001 1862-2001 Lire 10 Aluminum 1951-2001 Lire 20 Aluminum-bronze 1957–59, 1968-2001 1957-2001 Lire 50 Stainless steel 1954-95Copper-nickel 1996-2001 1954-2001 Lire 100 Stainless steel 1955-92Copper-nickel 1993-2001 1955-2001 Lire 200 Aluminum-bronze 1977-2001 Lire 500 Silver 1958-2001Bi-metallic aluminum-bronze center in stainless steel ring, 1982-2001 1958-2001 Lire 1000 Bi-metallic copper-nickel centre in aluminum-bronze ring 1997-2001

See also History of coins in Italy

References