Italian 500 Lire

The Italian 500 Lire coin, introduced in 1982, was among the first to use a bi-metallic design in everyday currency, pairing an aluminum-bronze ring with a stainless steel center to thwart counterfeiters.

This wasn't the coin's debut; silver versions appeared in 1957, reflecting Italy's post-war economic recovery. Over decades, mintage shifted with inflation and material costs, from those initial silver strikes to the bi-metallic ones that dominated until the euro's arrival in 2002. Exact figures for some years remain murky, lost in bureaucratic reshuffles.

Variations abound, with designs honoring figures like Christopher Columbus or Giuseppe Verdi, depending on the era. I handled plenty in my early days—sturdy pieces, though the silver ones tarnished quicker than you'd expect in a humid climate.