1979 Italy 500 Lire – Mercury & Allegory of Commerce

Pick# 94 | Printed by Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato

Issued in 1979, this 500 Lire banknote from Italy features Mercury, the Roman god of commerce, eloquence, and travel—symbolizing Italy’s economic aspirations during the late 20th century. Printed by the State Printing Works in Rome, this note blends classical mythology with modern design, offering collectors a compact yet richly symbolic piece of Italian numismatic history.

Part of the “Biglietto di Stato a Corso Legale” series, this issue was not released by the Banca d’Italia but by the Ministry of the Treasury, making it a unique legal tender directly backed by the Italian state.



Design Highlights

Obverse:
Portrait of Mercury at right, wearing a winged helmet
Ornamental guilloche background with denomination and official seals

Text: Repubblica Italiana – Cinquecento Lire
Signatures: Ruggiero / Impallomeni / Betti

Reverse:
Allegorical figures representing commerce and industry
Stylized rosettes and denomination in Latin script
Text: 500 Lire – Cinquecento

Watermark:
Emblem of Italy: five-pointed star in a wreath


Specifications
Attribute Details
Country Italy
Year 1979
Denomination 500 Lire
Issuer Ministry of the Treasury (Ministero del Tesoro)
Printer Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato
Designer Egidio Vangelli
Size 114 × 57 mm
Material Paper
Pick Number P# 94
Watermark Emblem of Italy
Status Demonetized (28 February 1986)


Why Add This Note to Your Collection?

This 1979 Italy 500 Lire note is ideal for:

Collectors of classical mythology and allegorical currency
Fans of Italian pre-Euro banknotes
Curators of state-issued legal tender outside central banks
Enthusiasts of compact, artful designs with historical symbolism

Whether you're building a collection around mythological themes or exploring Italy’s unique monetary history, this note offers elegance, rarity, and cultural resonance in a small but powerful format.