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: 640,363,065
Material
Diameter: 20.2 mm
Weight: 1 g
Thickness: 1.4 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 clipboard92
Numista: #730
Value
Exchange value: 5 ITL

Obverse

Description:
Steering control.
Inscription:
REPVBBLICA · ITALIANA

ROMAGNOLI
Translation:
Italian Republic

Romagnoli
Script: Latin
Languages: Italian, Latin

Reverse

Description:
Date left of dolphin.
Inscription:
5 R

1951
Script: Latin

Edge

Plain

Categories

Animal> Marine mammal

Mints

NameMark
RomeR

Mintings

YearMint MarkMintageQualityCollection
1951R40,260,000
1952R57,400,000
1953R196,200,000
1954R
1955R159,000,000
1956R400,000
1966R1,200,000
1967R10,600,000
1968R7,500,000
1969R6,995,000
1969R310,000BU
1970R4,211,000
1971R8,600,000
1972R16,400,000
1973R28,800,000
1974R6,600,000
1975R7,000,000
1976R9,000,000
1977R6,700,000
1978R3,600,000
1979R4,200,000
1980R6,000,000
1981R5,000,000
1982R8,900,000
1983R5,000,000
1984R2,100,000
1985R3,000,000
1985R20,345Proof
1986R17,500Proof
1986R5,000,000
1987R7,000,000
1987R10,000Proof
1988R5,000,000
1988R9,000Proof
1989R2,500,000
1989R9,260Proof
1990R2,500,000
1990R9,400Proof
1991R2,000,000
1991R11,000Proof
1992R1,000,000
1992R9,500Proof
1993R1,000,000
1993R8,500Proof
1994R1,000,000
1994R8,500Proof
1995R3,000,000
1995R7,960Proof
1996R2,500,000
1996R8,000Proof
1997R1,000,000
1997R8,440Proof
1998R9,000Proof
1998R1,500,000
1999R51,800BU
1999R8,500Proof
2000R61,400BU
2000R8,960Proof
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