The Vatican has just issued several "Sede Vacante" coins: a circulation (hoho) coin set, and a silver €5 collector coin. Note, however, that many dealers and collectors will not get theirs until September ... if they get any at all. Here is an image of the set:
http://www.zwei-euro.com/zwei-euro/vatikan...ede-muenzen.jpg
And this shows the €5 piece:
http://www.vatican.va/vatican_city_state/s..._2005/5euro.gif

Later this year, San Marino will issue another €2 commem, dedicated to the World Year of Physics (see http://www.wyp2005.org/). This is the coin ...

http://www.2-euro.net/Daten/News/sm05_entwurf.jpg
http://www.zwei-euro.com/zwei-euro/sanmari...twurf-gross.jpg

... or rather the design. The actual piece will probably be issued in November/December. And again, it is very unlikely that it will ever show up in circulation.

Christian

The San Marino coin is beautiful, it reminds me to the old 500 lires..

Yes, it does look attractive. Too bad that San Marino will most probably not issue the piece "raw". These special €2 coins were initially supposed to be circulating commems. But if that coin will be available in some folder/blister pack (at 12 euro or so) only, it won't show up in change ...

Christian

It's a shame to see the world's oldest republic going along with the latest European sovietization scheme. RIP, San Marino.

RIP, numismatic content of this thread. If you want to continue your eurobashing, you may want to take it to a more appropriate area.

Christian

Curious little fact about San Marino, for many years until about 20 years ago, they had communists leading their government.

that sede vacante set is pretty ... uh ... busy-looking. the VA 5€ is attractive, tho. too bad they'll probably be impossible to get.

Indeed. Problem with the coins from the Vatican (and also San Marino) is that the mintage cannot simply be upped but is limited by the "thresholds" laid out in the monetary agreements. That is why the Sede Vacante set has a mintage of 60,000 and the €5 issue is even limited to 13,440 pieces.

By the way, the drafts of the eight-coin set depicted on the UFN folders were even more cluttered :-) The €1 and €2 coins had the "Città del Vaticano" inscription twice, one time on the outer ring and one time on the inner "pill". Seems that got fixed ...

Christian

well, i managed to get on the san marino list (total dumb luck on my part) so now i get their issues regularly ...

It is a lot of luck indeed, but San Marino does seem to be quite reliable once you are on their mailing list. With the Vatican you never know - one may get an order form for two coins, order both and still get only one ...

Christian

Update - Here are pictures of the folder that the San Marino coin will come in:

http://www.2-euro.net/Daten/News/sm05_folder_i_g.jpg

http://www.2-euro.net/Daten/News/sm05_folder_v_g.jpg

In general I support the concept of "Buy the coin, not the folder". Well, this folder is at least interestingly designed: The coin is dedicated to the World Year of Physics, as I mentioned. Now the folder shows a pendulum, and in the background you see the nave of a cathedral. That refers to Galileo Galilei and the idea of the gravity pendulum. The description says that he got the idea while seeing a swinging chandelier in a cathedral.

Not only is the coin placed where one might imagine a round rose window ... the folder actually contains a working pendulum! Yeah, a gimmick alright. But heck, if I cannot get the coin raw anyway, I sure want a plastic pendulum with that.

Christian

Is there a way to still get that Vatican set other than Ebay?

You can send an email requesting details about ordering coins at Vatican's "Ufficio Filatelico e Numismatico" : http://www.vatican.va/vatican_city_state/s...rca_data_en.htm
Following the link above you'll find an e-mail address. Try!

Right, asking cannot hurt. It is too late, I think, to get the Sede Vacante issues from the UFN. But they may well add new customers to their mailing list, for future issues.

Christian

Hell I didn't know the Vatican had their own mint (coins yes mint no). Eh....

Actually the Italian firma Emilio Semese minted the Vatican coins (which firma was minted in the past the Italian telephone tokens with ESM mintmark)

The San Marino coin has been issued. A week ago the AASFN sold a couple directly; the rest has been or will be mailed. Here is a picture (not mine) of the folder and the actual coin:



What I don't really like is the concept of selling what is supposed to be a "circulating" commem" in folders only, at €12.50 each. But it sure is a neat piece ...

Christian

Don't quite think so. That would be a violation of the Monetary Agreement between the EU and the Vatican. ("The Vatican City State undertakes to use the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato and no other establishment to mint its coins as long as this Agreement remains in force.")

Christian