Vatican City Coins
Wednesday July 15, 2009
One of the most popular "multi-national" coin collecting topics is things having to do with Vatican City and the Popes. Nearly every country in Europe has issued some kind of papal or Catholic Church commemorative coin through the years, including many large and spectacular medallions. But many Americans are surprised to learn that the tiny Vatican City is a member of the European Union and issues its own Euro coinage. Although these coins don't actually circulate, they're issued in low-mintage sets that might not be a bad investment if you don't mind holding onto them for a long term.
Here's my thinking: just as the penny is an extremely popular coin in most English-speaking countries, (partly because it is where most collectors got their start as young numismatists and partly because their huge mintages make them generally affordable,) it stands to reason that the Euro minor coinage will also become an entry point for future European collectors. Although the two smallest Euro coins (the 1 cent and 2 cents) don't circulate universally in the European Union, I think it's a safe bet that several years from now kids will begin filling their Whitman-style coin folders with what's available. As those kids get older, they're going to want the key coins, too. And the key coins, for a complete collection of Euros, will include the small number issued each year by Vatican City.
Because he knows I am an avid collector of all things "coin-ish," the About.com Guide to Catholicism, Scott P. Richert, sent me the news awhile back that Vatican City maintains a Web site, including a catalog of Vatican City coins that have been issued since 1929. There's also a virtual store where you can buy those small-mintage Vatican City Euro sets. If you see a really cool coin collecting site that you think others would like to know about, please let me know in the Comment section (below) and I'll check it out. And if Euro collecting is your specialty, don't miss Euroswapper.com, a great place to buy, sell, and trade your spare Euros.
Here's my thinking: just as the penny is an extremely popular coin in most English-speaking countries, (partly because it is where most collectors got their start as young numismatists and partly because their huge mintages make them generally affordable,) it stands to reason that the Euro minor coinage will also become an entry point for future European collectors. Although the two smallest Euro coins (the 1 cent and 2 cents) don't circulate universally in the European Union, I think it's a safe bet that several years from now kids will begin filling their Whitman-style coin folders with what's available. As those kids get older, they're going to want the key coins, too. And the key coins, for a complete collection of Euros, will include the small number issued each year by Vatican City.
Because he knows I am an avid collector of all things "coin-ish," the About.com Guide to Catholicism, Scott P. Richert, sent me the news awhile back that Vatican City maintains a Web site, including a catalog of Vatican City coins that have been issued since 1929. There's also a virtual store where you can buy those small-mintage Vatican City Euro sets. If you see a really cool coin collecting site that you think others would like to know about, please let me know in the Comment section (below) and I'll check it out. And if Euro collecting is your specialty, don't miss Euroswapper.com, a great place to buy, sell, and trade your spare Euros.
Selected Euro Coins in Circulation From the World Money Gallery:
- Euro Coins of Belgium
- Euro Coins of Finland
- Euro Coins of France
- Euro Coins of Austria
- Euro Coins of Spain
Comments
Ah … I believe it is known as the holy sea. This is the first time i’ve seen it refered to as the holy see. Merely an oversight. Check into that. I believe that is correct. (SEA)
Some of these coins are not only beautiful. I have seen recent sets selling at prices, if our own U.S. sets could match the prices. We could all retire from the profits from the sets rise in value. Truly amazing!
coiny
Sorry Coiny, it is The Holy See, or in other words, Vatican City. Or if you prefer, the State of the Vatican City. Commonly just called Vatican City it is an independent country (smallest in the world in both size and population). The Holy See dates back to St. Peter, the founder of the Roman See of Christiandom. The other Sees of the early church included Antioch, Alexandria, and Constantinople to name a few. A See today is the governing place of the Church. Rome is the Holy See or “first among equals” that all of the Church was once under. A See is also based upon the fact that the Church under it was founded by an apostle, hence Peter founded the Roman See and the Roman Catholic Church is governed from the Holy See. Rome rose to prominenence due to the fact that no other church in the West could claim being founded by an apostle, while most of the apostles’ travels and evangelical missions went east.
P.S. you are right, the coins are beautiful, and legal tender in the European Union as well.
LookSee! Thank you for that correction. I see now. It may be to many catholics are under the same wrong impression about the holy sea. And the correct terminology. I believe we picked that up back in the day, and just let it go at that. Or some body wasn’t paying attention very well in school. Hmmmm – Wonder who that could of been??
News to me that the coins are accepted for circulation in the european union. They issue business strikes too. I thought they only issued proof coins, very seldom. I’ll be looking over their web site very soon.
The coins are outstanding.
coiny
I hate ta say it folks. If any of you have looked at some of the new world coins of other nations, there are some pretty outstanding coins being produced. They are beautiful coins. It dosen’t do y heart good to see how we are being left behind the 8 ball so to speak, so we can hold an education session with our coinage. So that the masses can catch up on our history where public and private schools failed. Don’t know how long if ever this new medium will last or take hold of a captive audiance. Seems we have more pressing things to worry about at this time. In the mean time, it may take a few decades to catchup to where the Eropeans are now. Most of the world seems to like what we make as far as bullion coinage goes. It could be time for a change.
Just a thought and my opinion.
coiny