Vatican euros sell out in three hours

AFP ^ | Fri, Apr 02, 2004

[presidio9]

Rare Vatican (news - web sites) euros coins, sold for the first time outside the Vatican for security reasons, were snatched up within three hours after crowds rushed to buy them.

AFP Photo

In an office near St. Paul's basilica, the Vatican's Philatelic and Numismatic Office started selling the coins Friday morning at 7:30 am (0530 GMT). By 10:30 am, doors were closed with the last 200 buyers still inside.

Many of the collectors who had come to buy the coins were disappointed to be shut-out after having waited in line since the night before.

The coins, which feature the profile of Pope John Paul (news - web sites) II, are part of a very limited series of Vatican euros coins.

Euro coins are different in all 12 EU countries which have adopted the single currency.

On Friday, people could only buy one of the two different sets of Vatican coins, with a face value of 3.88 euros, for the price of either 21 or 25 euros.

The total worth of both sets is 138,000 euros, a spokesman for the Philatelic and Numismatic Office told AFP.

The Vatican, seat of the Roman Catholic Church, won the right in 1929 to mint its own coins -- then the Italian lira -- up to a pre-specified limit. It adopted the euro in 2001, along with Italy.

Tiny San Marino, another enclave on Italian territory, also has the right to mint euro coins.

[presidio9]

A man shows Vatican (news - web sites) euros as people wait to buy the new series of coins outside St. Paul's Basilica. The rare coins, sold for the first time outside the Vatican for security reasons, were snatched up within three hours after crowds rushed to buy them.(AFP/Philippe Desmazes)

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[tiamat]

What a COOL keepsake that would be!

[TopQuark]

Why is Vatican selling euros? Does it identify itself with Europe rather than the world?

And, does it identify itself with that very EU that refused even to mention Christianity in its constitution? I wish Vatican exercised more leadership --- the whole world would benefit, I believe.

[July 4th]

I understand your point but for all practical purposes, they are part of Italy. As the article mentioned, they had their own lire too, and Italy dumped that at the currency changeover a few years ago.

They still remain "indepdendent" with their postal service though. It's run by the Swiss, so it's far more efficient than Italy's. Always mail your postcards from Rome at the Vatican.

[Murtyo]

It doesn't have its own currency, Italy adopted the Euro, the Vatican had a monetary union with Italy and this carried over to the Euro when the Lira was scrapped.

[antiRepublicrat]

And, does it identify itself with that very EU that refused even to mention Christianity in its constitution?

There's good reason they didn't do so, even more than with our Constitution. First, they'd have to be careful of how they mentioned Christianity, because the EU consists of states with majorities at the end extremes of Christian belief, many incompatible depending on the text used. And soon the EU will have as a member a Muslim state, and I'm sure that wouldn't go over too well.

The best constitutions regulate the state and leave the people free to do as they wish, including worship of their own religion in the way they see fit without government mandate or intrusion.

[antiRepublicrat]

the Vatican had a monetary union with Italy and this carried over to the Euro when the Lira was scrapped.

I remember Italy was thinking of scrapping the Euro last year. Any news on that front?

[tjwmason]

And, does it identify itself with that very EU that refused even to mention Christianity in its constitution? I wish Vatican exercised more leadership

The Holy See is not a member state of the European Union, and thus can only provide moral leadership (which European 'Catholic' politicians give about regard as Senator Kerry does); however it is surrounded by Italy (and has a very special relationship with Italy, including currency union) which is a founder state of the Common Market (the precursor to the E.U.). Also I seem to have missed the reference to Christianity in the U.S. Constitution; besides the constitution is not yet finished, it is supposed to be sent out to member states for ratification later this year, hopefully we in England will get a referendum (I say that not because I like referenda, but because we will vote against it, and the whole thing will be as dead as a dodo).

[Docbarleypop]

you are right! the only cards that made it home were the ones sent at the vatican.

[July 4th]

I don't know the specific facts, but there is an old story about the Italian postal service. Maybe 30 years ago, they were months behind in delivering mail. Literally, a piece of mail would take two months to get to its destination. So the government fired the head of the postal service and appointed a new one.

The next evening, the new postal director solved the mail problem. Rome's residents saw thousands of bags of mail being dumped into the Tiber river.

[TopQuark]

You must have missed the details of that ussue. It arouse as part of the preamble, where several historical factors were identified, which purportedly contributed greatly to the formation of Europe. The French authors have pointed to Enlightenment, and mentioned it by name, as one such important factor in the formation of Europe.

This had nothing to do with governance, current of future role of religion.

You may find it ironic to here this from a Jewish person, but I find this omission sinply preposterous. Everything beautiful created in Europe was created by Christians in their service to G-d --- from the Music of Bach to the paintings of Ruebens to the universities that now educate all of us. Not to acknowlege this fact is an affront to the truth and I am appaled that this has taken place. My own explanation is that it is simply a part of anti-Christian, and more broadly anti-religious, bigotry that permeates now that continent.

[TopQuark]

Also I seem to have missed the reference to Christianity in the U.S. Constitution; Our constitution did not have a similar preamble; please see the previous post.

[mhking]

 

Just damn.

If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[antiRepublicrat]

Not to acknowlege this fact is an affront to the truth and I am appaled that this has taken place.

I don't think a constitution's business is to address such things. That can be done by the people and the leaders afterwards. Of course, given that the EU's proposed constitution is overloaded with a bunch of micromanaging and unneccessary crap, this addition might fit in were it not for the upcoming inclusion of a Muslim state (unless they used "higher power" or something like that). I like the minimalistic approach in the U.S. Constitution.

[TopQuark]

I don't think a constitution's business is to address such things.

I have no problem with that and, in fact, agree with you.

That is not the point, however: givevn that the preamble is there, given that it alludes to the roots of unified Europe, I think it is a falsehood and bigotry on the part of its authors to exclude Christianity.

I have never argued against your point.

[antiRepublicrat]

givevn that the preamble is there, given that it alludes to the roots of unified Europe, I think it is a falsehood and bigotry on the part of its authors to exclude Christianity.

I see your point. They could probably avoid trouble by changing this line: "The Union shall respect its rich cultural [, religious] and linguistic diversity, and shall ensure that Europe's cultural [and religious] heritage is safeguarded and enhanced."

But given that religion goes hand in hand with culture, religion could be implied there anyway.

[Murtyo]

donno. I doubt they will though!