Logo Title
obverse
reverse
Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp.
Context
Years: 1951–2001
Issuer: Italy Issuer flag
Period:
(since 1946)
Currency:
(1861—2001)
Demonetization: 28 February 2002
Total mintage: 102,510,978
Material
Diameter: 17.2 mm
Weight: 0.63 g
Thickness: 1.2 mm
Shape: Round
Composition: Aluminium (96.2% Aluminium, 3.5% Magnesium, 0.3% Manganese)
Magnetic: No
Technique: Milled
Alignment: Coin alignment
Obverse
OBVERSE ↑
flip
Reverse
REVERSE ↓
References
KM: #Click to copy to clipboard91
Numista: #2615
Value
Exchange value: 1 ITL

Obverse

Description:
Scale. Author's name below.
Inscription:
REPVBBLICA · ITALIANA

ROMAGNOLI
Translation:
Italian Republic

Romagnoli
Script: Latin
Languages: Italian, Latin

Reverse

Description:
Cornucopia divides date and mintmark from large "1."
Inscription:
2001

1

R
Script: Latin

Edge

Plain

Mints

NameMark
RomeR

Mintings

YearMint MarkMintageQualityCollection
1951R3,680,000
1952R2,720,000
1953R2,800,000
1954R41,040,000
1955R32,640,000
1956R1,840,050
1957R7,440,000
1958R5,280,000
1959R1,680,000
1968R100,000BU
1969R310,000BU
1970R1,140,000BU
1980R250,000BU
1981R162,794BU
1982R119,950BU
1983R76,552BU
1984R77,041BU
1985R93,218BU
1985R20,345Proof
1986R73,200BU
1986R17,500Proof
1987R57,500BU
1987R10,000Proof
1988R51,050BU
1988R9,000Proof
1989R51,200BU
1989R9,260Proof
1990R52,300BU
1990R9,400Proof
1991R54,000BU
1991R11,000Proof
1992R52,000BU
1992R9,500Proof
1993R8,500Proof
1993R50,200BU
1994R44,500BU
1994R8,500Proof
1995R44,558BU
1995R7,960Proof
1996R8,000Proof
1996R45,000BU
1997R8,440Proof
1997R43,600BU
1998R55,200BU
1998R9,000Proof
1999R51,800BU
1999R8,500Proof
2000R8,960Proof
2000R61,400BU
2001R100,000BU
2001R10,000Proof

Historical background

In 1951, Italy’s currency situation was defined by the aftermath of World War II and the early stages of the "economic miracle." The official currency was the Italian Lira (ITL), but its value and stability were still recovering from the devastation of the war. The country had undergone a painful period of high inflation and devaluation, culminating in the 1947 "Stabilization Plan" led by Governor Luigi Einaudi. This plan, involving credit restrictions and fiscal discipline, had successfully halted hyperinflation and laid a foundation for growth, but the lira remained a relatively weak and controlled currency within a complex European exchange landscape.

The international context was crucial, as Italy was a beneficiary of the Marshall Plan (1948-1951), which provided vital dollars for reconstruction and helped stabilize the balance of payments. Externally, Italy was a founding member of the European Payments Union (EPU) in 1950, a system that facilitated multilateral trade among European nations by offsetting deficits and surpluses without using scarce gold or dollars. This membership was critical for Italy, as it allowed for increased trade and economic integration while conserving foreign reserves. Domestically, however, capital controls and multiple exchange rates persisted, with the government and the Bank of Italy carefully managing the lira to support industrial exports and protect fragile sectors.

Overall, 1951 represented a period of cautious transition and guarded optimism. The lira was not yet fully convertible, and its parity was officially set at 625 lire to the US dollar—a rate that would remain fixed for over a decade. The primary focus was on using monetary policy to fuel industrial investment and export-led growth, setting the stage for the rapid expansion of the mid-1950s. While the acute crises of the immediate postwar years were over, the currency regime remained one of managed stability, designed to nurture recovery within a framework of international cooperation and domestic control.

Series: 1951 Italy circulation coins

1 Lira obverse
1 Lira reverse
1 Lira
1951-2001
5 Lire obverse
5 Lire reverse
5 Lire
1951-2001
10 Lire obverse
10 Lire reverse
10 Lire
1951-2001
🌱 Very Common