Italy Silver 500 Lire Good Very Fine

The 500 lire coin issued between 1958 and 2001 was one of the last struck in silver that circulated as legal tender in Italy, even though from 1968 onwards it appeared only in official mint sets. On the obverse side are the Niña, Pinta and Santa Maria, the caravel-type ships used by Christopher Columbus when he accidentally discovered America on his way to India and China in 1492. The reverse side features a woman in Renaissance dress representing Italy, based on the Pisanello Medaglia di Cecilia medal, and who is surrounded by the 21 shields of Italy’s major cities. Offered in Good Very Fine condition.