Old Italian Coin Appraisal

1989 Italian 500 Lire Bi-Metallic Coin

This is a 1989 Italian 500 Lire coin, an iconic piece of Italian numismatic history as it was the first mass-produced bi-metallic coin used in modern circulation. The coin features an Acmonital (stainless steel) outer ring and a Bronzital (aluminum bronze) center plug. On the obverse shown, the design displays the Quirinal Palace in Rome, the official residence of the President of the Italian Republic. Above the palace, the denomination is rendered in Braille, a pioneering accessibility feature for the time. The date '1989' is visible on the holder, which matches the style of the coin. The coin is housed in a white cardboard and mylar 2x2 protective coin flip, which is secured with staples and handwritten in purple/blue ink with 'ITALY', '500 LIRE', and '1989'. The condition of the coin through the plastic appears to be 'Circulated' (VF/XF), showing some light surface scratches and minor abrasions consistent with use in commerce before the adoption of the Euro. The luster is somewhat muted, which is typical for circulated bi-metallic pieces of this era. The alignment between the two metals appears centered, indicating standard minting quality from the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato (IPZS) in Rome.