Are you interested in knowing the value of the Italian 500 Lire Silver Coin? On this page we have collected all the information, curiosities, values and quotations of the rare 500 lire Coin of the Italian Republic. If you want to take a look of the vatican 500 lira coin, so you should check this page: 500 lire vatican coins.
Introduction to the italian 500 lire coin
When we talk about the 500 Lire Silver Coin we are usually reminded of the Italian 500 Lire bimetallic coins made of actimonial on the outside and bronzital on the inside that for many years we have seen and used in Italy.
In fact, before this model, introduced in 1982, the Italian 500 lira were completely made in silver.
Among these models there are some really interesting and worthy one, since some 500 Lire Silver Coins have can have a value of thousands of euros.
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One Italian 500 Lire Silver Coin
History of the Italian 500 Lire Silver Coin
The 500 Lire Silver Coins were minted during two periods of the Italian Republic. The first minting took place from 1958 to 1967. During this period the 500 lire were minted in silver.
The second period was from 1982 until 2001. In this period the 500 Lire Silver Coin were minted in actimonial and bronzital, thus becoming bimetallic. In 2001, the issue was suspended forever because of the introduction of the single European currency, the Euro. We have talked a lot about these bimetallic coins in this article: Italian 500 lire coin.
Outside of these productions and coins put into circulation, some silver models were also minted for collectors only.
Value and Price of 500 Lire Silver Coin
The 500 Lire Silver Coin have a current value that varies according to certain parameters as the rarity, the print run, the year of minting and the state of preservation. These are just some of the characteristics that must be evaluated to give a quotation of one 500 silver lira. Generally speaking, 500 Lire Silver Coins are not uncommon.
If you own some of this Italian coins you’re probably wondering how much are the 500 silver lira worth?
The 500 Lire Silver Coin of all years of production are considered common, apart from the 1957 “trial” production (the one that is called “500 lire with sails on the contrary”) which is very rare. We will talk about these 500 rare lire in the next chapter.
The value of the 500 silver lira minted in 1968, 1959, 1960 is quoted from 3 to 8 euro per piece. The 500 silver lira of 1961 have a value in euros from 7 to 25 €, because they are produced in smaller quantities.
Some examples of these years, which show minting errors, may have a value of several hundred euro. There are some years that can have a value higher than 100 euro, always depending on the state of conservation. These are 1983, 1988, 1995, 1997 and finally the last year 2001.
The Mint of Rome has issued 3 different types of 500 lira silver coins 835. The first type is called: Caravelle.
500 Lire Silver Coin with Caravelle: Value and Curiosity
This coin was minted from 1958 to 1967 and is a fairly common piece. The obverse of the coin shows a bust of a Renaissance woman, together with 19 coats of arms of the city capitals of the period. This coin’s reverse side is engraved with the three caravels (Columbus’s ships) that are sailing (to the right). The least common copies of this coin are those produced in 1993/94.
The value of these coins ranges from €15 to €40 for FDC (Mint). Year 1958 and 1965 models with the three caravels have a value in euros from 5 to 20 euro because they were made only for collectors.
Curiosity: the proof of this coin, printed in 1957 in only 1004 pieces, presents the flags of the caravels in reverse (upwind) and is one of the rarest and most precious Italian coins.
The 500 Silver Lira with Sails to the contrary (1957)
The 500 Silver Lira with sails are one of the rarest coins in the Italian Republic.
This coin shows on the reverse the design of the three caravels in navigation. What is special about it is that the flags on the top of the caravel’s main trees are pointed into the wind, engraved in the opposite direction to where they should actually be looking at.
So, in reality, it is not the sails that are on the contrary, as you think, but the flags. The sails are facing in the right direction, towards the bow of the ships.
But there is another surprise…
…in fact not even the flags are in the wrong direction. In fact, the caravels are sailing upwind, close upwind, and therefore both the direction of the flags and that of the sails are correct.
No printing error therefore, just a variant of the engraving.
Nowadays in the popular culture these coins are however called “caravels with sails on the contrary“, which causes the most informed and attentive numismatists to be annoyed.
Another distinctive feature is the writing “Prova” at the bottom left under the caravels.
This test currency was only minted in 1957. Only 1004 copies were produced. Subsequently, the “regular” series began in 1958.
The possibility of finding this rare coin between a lot of normal caravels, perhaps stored in a drawer at home, is very low. In fact, the 500 silver lire with sails on the other hand have never been circulating.
These 500 silver lira have a value that can ‘get from 3,000 to 12,000 euro depending on the state of preservation. Wanted by collectors, if you own one of these coin you have the fortune to have one of the rarest and most precious coins of the Italian Republic.
There are two other models of 500 Lire Silver Coin whose current value in euro is noteworthy. We are talking about the coins denominated “500 lire Unification of Italy“, and “500 lire with Dante“.
500 Lire Silver Coin of the First Centenary of the Unification of Italy
The 500 silver lira minted between 1961 and 1963 are a special and noteworthy model. This 500 lire model shows a figure of a woman sitting on a capital holding a helmet on the right side and a quadriga on the back.
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500 Lire Silver Coin 1861-1961
It has been coined on the occasion of the First Centenary of the Unification of Italy, they were produced for only three years, always using only the mould of 1961.
Therefore, the coins produced in the following two years still have only the date 1961. The 500 silver lira in question have an average value of about 7 euro. Some Mint models can reach a value of between 20 and 80 €.
500 Lire Silver Coin of Dante Alighieri: Value and curiosity
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500 Lire Silver Coin with Dante Alighieri
These500 Lire Silver Coins were produced in 1965 on the occasion of the celebrations of the Seventh Centenary of Dante’s birth. Dante’s 500 silver lira have a value in euro ranging from 3 to 10 euro depending on the state of the coin.
Different value has the trial version of the coin. In fact, the trial version is part of a narrow group of 500 rare and valuable lire. It was produced and given as a gift to the mint’s employees. The value of these 500 Lire Silver Coin can exceed 4,000 €.
How to recognize these 500 rare lire ? Simple, on the reverse of the coin must be written “Prova“.
500 Lire Coin after 1982
From 1982 onwards, the 500 lire coins were minted in actimonial and bronzital becoming 500 lire bimetallic. From this year on we can no longer talk of 500 rare lire because of the large volumes of bimetal printing.
Value of Bimetallic 500 Lire
This model of 500 lire is perhaps the best known even by you who are reading this article. The classic coin was minted between 1982 and 2001, when it was replaced by the Euro. Some years see the production of medium head coins, others with small head and others with large head.
But how much are the 500 lire of acmonital and bronze worth?
In general they have a value of 2€ if in perfect condition. The 1991 coins can also be quoted at 10€ if perfect. There are also some models of 500 bimetallic lira coined for commemorative events. These are as follows:
500 Bank of Italy Lira
Coined in 1993, these 500 acmonital and bronze lire wanted to celebrate the centenary of the Bank of Italy. They have a maximum value of 2€.
500 Lira of Luca Pacioli
This common currency depicts Luca Pacioli and was produced in 1994 on the occasion of the celebrations of his 500th birthday. The price of these 500 acmonital and bronze lira is 1 euro.
500 Lire Coin of Istat
A coin produced in 1996 and with a value of about 1 euro. It was coined to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Istat.
500 lire of Police
Not uncommon coin, produced in the year 1997. It was coined to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of the Traffic Police. The value of this currency is quoted in 1 euro.
500 lire coin of IFAD
These bimetallic 500 lire of acmonital and bronzital were coined in 1988 for the celebrations of the twenty years of Ifad. This 500 lira coin is worth a maximum of 1 euro.
500 lire Coin of Elections of the European Parliament
The last coin of 500 lire commemorative. It was produced in 99 to celebrate the twentieth and direct elections of the European Parliament. Its value is 1 euro.
You did not find what you were looking for? Check these topics:
- We talked about 500 lire banknotes in this page and about the 500 lire vatican coins here and here for the San Marino 500 Lire coins
- If you are looking for Euro Rare Coins then click here.
- If you are a numismatist and you want info on 2 Euro Commemorative Coins click here.
- Pieces and their value of Italian 20 Lire Coin are described here.
- If you want info about Roman and Greek Coins and other Ancient Coins and their value, you can find it here
- We talked about how to clean the rare coins, here
- Roman coins were discussed here.
- You will find everything about British Gold Sovereign Coins here.
Yo dude just bought one for fun. Great historical info here. I’m versed in us coins so anything Italian is basically Chinese. Enough info here for me to leave a comment! Hope ya see this. -A Coinafornian
Hi, I was reading in Numista that there are some 1961 L500 coins that have a “Quadriga wheel with 8 rays”. Have you seen this coin or can you point me where I could see a photo of one on line?
Thank you
Hi, NGC indicates that the 1966 R L500 lira “varieties exist”. Do you have a link or description of what these varieties are?
Thank you
Hi i have italiana 1982
Hi I have a L 500 JANA printed on back with a lady standing in the middle with the letters in capital each side of her S G can some one tell me anything about this please is it worth anything
not much.
Hi i have
2 pcs of 200lira coin( 1978)
2pcs of 50 lira coin( 1956)
1 pc of 100 lira coin ( 1962 & 1966)
Do you think how much is the value of this?
Thanks
I have one italiana repubblica.
check it on its border outline
Please tell me where I can find the year on L500 , with ships on the back.
TY,
Susan
Hi Steve, there are coins of 1967 an 1961 and keep in mind that the coat of arms on the coin could be different from region to region. Maybe is that?
Hello, I have a question regarding the date on the side of the L500 three caravels. Is there a website that has pictures of the different dates? I have 3 L500 caravels that look like the year minted on the side is 1961. However, that can’t be correct. The other option I assume is the “1” is really a “7”, but it doesn’t look like my 1967 caravels either. Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you.
indeed, we did fix it! thanks a lot.
Hey, the ring of 500 lire between 1983 and 2001 it’s not made of silver but acmonital!