Vatican 2006 official BU euro set (8 coins)

Vatican 2006 Official BU Euro Set (8 Coins) is an important Vatican euro issue marking the beginning of the third series of Vatican euro circulation coins and the first regular euro series to feature Pope Benedict XVI. Issued in 2006, the set contains all eight standard euro denominations: 1, 2 and 5 euro cents, 10, 20 and 50 euro cents, €1 and €2. The national sides share a unified portrait design, while the reverse sides follow the common euro designs used throughout the euro area.

The centrepiece of the national side is the portrait of Pope Benedict XVI, sovereign of Vatican City State from 2005 to 2013. The portrait is surrounded by the inscriptions “CITTÀ DEL VATICANO” and the twelve stars of the European Union, while the year 2006 and the mintmark “R” identify the issue and the Rome Mint. The designer's initials “DL”, referring to Daniela Longo, appear to the left of the portrait. This first Benedict XVI series replaced the previous Vatican coinage bearing the likeness of Pope John Paul II.

The 2006 set is particularly interesting from a numismatic perspective because several of its denominations were produced for sets only. The 10, 20 and 50 euro cent coins, as well as the €1 and €2 coins, belong to the first Benedict XVI design type with the original map representation on the common side. The €2 coin retains the standard euro edge lettering, with the denomination and stars repeated around the edge. Together, the eight coins provide a complete snapshot of Vatican euro coinage at the beginning of the Benedict XVI pontificate.

This is the official Vatican BU (Brilliant Uncirculated) annual euro set, produced by the Italian State Mint in Rome. With an issued quantity of 85,000 sets, it is a desirable early Vatican euro set, particularly for collectors of papal coinage, Vatican euro issues and complete annual euro sets. The original presentation packaging further distinguishes it from individual loose Vatican circulation coins.

Specifications:

• Country: Vatican City
• Year: 2006
• Set: Official Vatican Euro Set
• Number of coins: 8
• Denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 Eurocent; 1 Euro; 2 Euro
• Quality: BU (Brilliant Uncirculated)
• Theme: First Vatican euro series featuring Pope Benedict XVI
• National side: Pope Benedict XVI
• Designer: Daniela Longo (DL)
• Mint: Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, Rome, Italy
• Mintmark: R
• Mintage: 85,000 sets
• Packaging: Original official Vatican presentation packaging
• Legal tender: Euro coins of Vatican City

Package includes: Official Vatican 2006 BU Euro Set containing all 8 denominations from 1 Eurocent to 2 Euro in original Vatican presentation packaging.