2017-03-04 Sat

The Pope Francis image is replaced by his coat of arms on the latest 2017 Vatican City euro coins. This is the fifth design change for Vatican euro coinage since 15 years.

On 1st March 2002, the first annual series of papal coins were circulated featuring the image of Pope John Paul II. After that, a Sede Vacante set was issued in 2005 when Pope John Paul II died. New coins were issued every year featuring different Popes from Pope Benedict XVI to Pope Francis.

There was a lot of demand for Vatican’s annual euro coin sets leading to violence. After that, EU adopted regulations for some Vatican euro coins to be issued at face value. Annual Proof and Brilliant Uncirculated sets, as well as a BU 50-cent coin and other collector coins, were released on 2nd March.