The Vatican, being a sovereign nation in the middle of Rome, is no stranger to minting its own money. Since 2002, Vatican City has produced its own localized version of the Euro, featuring the face of Pope John Paul II, but only for the collector’s market. They weren’t Euros meant for general circulation. However, now, the Vatican has released a collection of 50-cent pieces featuring the face of Pope Benedict XVI and the only place you can get the collectible coins is at the grocery stores and gas station in Vatican City.
While the Pope John Paul II Euros were released straight to the collector’s market, the Pope Benedict XVI two bits piece is getting released as actual money, with the Vatican authorizing the coins to be given as change in limited amounts, to both circulate the coinage and keep it a collectible piece. So if you’re in Rome any time soon and you want to pick up a copy of The Blues Brothers on DVD or get yourself a box of Eggo waffles, make sure you get your change back in Bennies.
Image: 1979 Papal Peso
Tags: Papal coins, pope coins, Vatican City, Papal coins given as change in Vatican City, 50-cent Pope Benedict XVI coins given as change, collector’s coins, unusual money, Vatican to give out pope coins at gas station and grocery