What is the currency in Italy?The answer to this question is quite simple, because the country belongs to the European Union, respectively, the Italians use the euro.But it was not always.Who is the national currency in Italy?We talk about this in more detail.
official currency of Italy
official currency is the euro.However, this is not surprising, because Italy belongs to the European Union.Changes have taken place in January 2002.Italy, like all other countries of the Eurozone, prints its own currency.It differs from the others only a serial number.On the Italian euro must be the letter S. Thus, the monetary currency of Italy has its own characteristics in comparison with other EU countries.
Features "Italian" euro
How looks the currency in Italy?Paper bills are different from other countries in the euro only by its serial number.In all other respects, they look the same as in the whole European Union.Denominations are rated from 5 to 500 euro and coins - from 5 to 50 cents, and 1 and 2 euros.
If we talk about coins, their front face is no different from those used in other countries of the Eurozone.However, the flip side of a distinctive design, which boasts the only currency of Italy.On the reverse side is a depiction of the Colosseum, a fragment of the famous Italian painter Botticelli's "Birth of Venus", "harmonious human" by Leonardo da Vinci.
emergence of the Italian lira
Until that time, when the country had a new currency - the euro, the currency of Italy, there was another.Lear was first introduced back in the distant year 780 as a result of the reform of Charlemagne.Then the currency of the country were Roman coins - gold solidus, which was replaced by Caroline denarius, which was used for the manufacture of silver.But where do the lira?It was introduced as a counting unit, along with solid and amounted to 240 denarii 20 SOLID.It is important to clarify that the lira was only a concept rather than a real coin.The word comes from the Latin word for pound (410 grams).
Lira united Italy
history as a real currency lira had already begun in the XIX century (1861) when Italy was united.The currency of the country many times going through bad times.It devalued several times, most often in the turbulent times of the world wars.
One chentazimo lira was 100, but the money these denominations produces virtually no.The Second World War was the reason that there was another fall in the lira.Because of hyperinflation ceased to use banknotes with face value was less than 1000 pounds.It soon became the minimum denomination banknote 2000 lire.In addition, the currency was made, which was the maximum rating of 100,000 pounds.But not only were the cause of the fall of the exchange rate or the termination of the exchange of the currency for gold.In 1986, the authorities conducted a denomination.While the rate was 1000 old for 1 new lira.
As already mentioned, the euro came to the country in 2002.But even for a whole year, both currencies were used simultaneously.But even after the lira completely ceased to exist as the national currency, it can be exchanged in any state bank.This situation continued for the next ten years (up to 2013th).All this time the rate was fixed at 1936.27 lira per 1 euro.
Features Italian lira
looked like an old Italian currency?In 1861, the authorities have decided on the recognition of a single national currency lira.Then it began to mint from metals such as gold (10 and 20 liras) and silver (1, 2, 5 liras).At the same time began to mint small coins - chentizimo.For this purpose, metals such as copper and silver.But a year later, the authorities changed their initial decision.Lyra was supposed to be made entirely of gold.At the same time, the continued production of chentizimo, but it used base metals - copper and nickel alloys.
After World War I the situation has once again changed.Lyra small denominations, it was decided to mint nickel, and another twenty years for the use of stainless steel.Since 1945, coins were minted from 1 to 1000 pounds.Chentizimo at this time is no longer used because they do not have value because of high inflation.However, in the trade, they are not practically used.These coins have value only to numismatists and collectors.
As for banknotes, their appearance was typical for Italy.On the back of each of them was depicted one of the heroes of Italy.
What you need to know the tourist
Going to travel to the country, it is best to take euros or bank checks.Also, most institutions can use credit cards.Exchange in Italy Russian rubles will be very problematic.By the way, to a certain extent this is true of the US dollar.Of course, exchange offices, which accept dollars, much more than those which can be exchanged for rubles, but American money is taken with great reluctance.
can exchange money in any bank in the country, the only drawback - is that they only work up to 16 hours.The country has a large number of exchange points, including the airport and hotels, but the exchange rate is often unfavorable.In addition, you will have to pay for the service itself exchange.Most often it is a certain percentage of the amount that you are going to be exchanged.
It should be remembered that in exchange offices located at railway stations or airports, this percentage can reach the level of 10. Some exchangers offer to pay a fixed amount.If you have to exchange a fairly large amount, it can be more profitable.It is also important to know that in Italy there are restrictions on the amount of money that you want to exchange.The maximum value of - $ 500.
In Italy is very common credit card payment.Check this by using special ads that hang owners in their establishments.In addition, there are ATMs that work with foreign currency.But we need to know what percentage of the commission in this case is quite high.Italians prefer to work with credit cards for several reasons.
First, residents believe this payment method more simple and practical.And secondly, the country is forbidden to pay in cash, if the purchase amount exceeds 12 000 euros.For this you can incur criminal liability.Therefore, any amount that exceeds the above should be carried out by check or directly through the bank.
Instead of conclusion
Now you know the answer to a question about what the national currency in Italy.If still in doubt, that is the most valuable, it is undoubtedly the euro.Therefore, in order to avoid unnecessary problems, it is best to bring to this particular currency.
