Italy is a European country with a long Mediterranean coastline. This country has left a powerful mark on Western culture and cuisine. Its capital, Rome, is home to the Vatican as well as landmark art and ancient ruins. Other major cities include Florence, with Renaissance masterpieces such as Michelangelo’s "David" and Brunelleschi's Duomo; Venice, the city of canals; and Milan, Italy’s fashion capital.

Due to its central geographic location in Europe and the Mediterranean, Italy has historically been home to a myriad of peoples and cultures. Italy has a major advanced capitalist mixed economy, ranking as the third-largest in the Eurozone and the eighth-largest in the world. Italy is the world's sixth largest manufacturing country.

The lira (plural “lire”) was the currency of the country during various intervals of its history. From the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy between 1807 and 1814, the Albanian Kingdom between 1941 and 1943 to the introduction of the Euro, Lira was the official currency of Italy. It was subdivided into 100 centesimi.

Today we are looking at a 50,000 Lire banknote issued in 1984. The obverse has the self-portrait of Italian artist, sculptor, architect and painter Gian Lorenzo Bernini to right. In centre left there is a detail of the sculptor's Triton Fountain in Piazza Barberini, Rome with the seal depicting winged lion of St. Mark, symbol of Venice above three shields of Genoa, Pisa and Amalfi in centre.

The reverse depicts the "Equestrian statue of the Emperor Constantine" by Bernini and a reproduction of a study for a medal commemorating the inauguration of the Royal Staircase in Vatican City and a section of the staircase, taken from the original drawing, also in the Library's collection.

Isn’t it a beautiful note?

Image Courtesy: PicClick