The 65,000 sets of eight coins each — complete with the image of John Paul II — went into circulation Friday and were sold out Tuesday. The sets cost 12 euros (about $10.40).
According to a monetary agreement, Vatican City´s currency is aligned with Italy´s. When Italy joined the single European currency, the Vatican followed suit, as did other small countries, such as the Republic of San Marino and the Principality of Monaco.
Italy´s mint has coined 640,000 euro coins with John Paul II´s image. His name does not appear, however.
For more information on the Vatican euro, contact ufn@scv.va. For now, the coins can be viewed at http://www.vatican.va/vatican_city_state/services/stamps_coins/documents/n200201mo_it.htm.
