Did you know, what are the first bi-metallic coin produce for general circulation? It is a 500 Lire from 1982 minted by the Italian state mint, a circulating commemoratives, introduced for circulation in Italy, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City.
The coin obverse show woman head with the symbols of the Italian regions. The coin reverse show the Quirinal Palace in Rome, official residence of the President of the Republic. On top of the outer ring is the coin face value written in Braille characters and the coin value below.
The coin is made with a Bronzital center in Acmonital ring. It had a weight of 6.80g and a diameter of 25.8mm. Only 162,000 pieces are minted for 1982 coins but the coins were made until 2001 with obverse portrait varieties. For you information, Italy joined euro on January 1, 2002 and the Euro coins began to be used as the Italy official coin.
Michael Alexander from coinupdate.com asked Angelo Rossi, Director of the Instituto Poligrafico Zecca dello Stato (IZPS), the Italian State Mint in 2011 about the development process and the technology involved for the 1982 500 lire coin, he then answered:
"The production of this innovative technique was initiated by the former Mint Director, Nicola Ielpo and the designs were developed by the Academy of Medallic Art’s Director, Laura Cretara. In 1981 after the technical feasibility of these innovative coins had been assessed, the IPZS filed a patent and the tools were ready at the beginning of 1982. The coin was also officially presented at the XII Mint Directors Conference in Lisbon that same year. The new coin merged two different metals in color and composition and also introduced the indication of the value in Braille characters. At the beginning of this process, the two pieces had to be pre-assembled, with a second step to devise little crevices on the internal rim of the external ring, which contrasted the internal core of the coin. Later on, it became possible to both assemble and strike the coins at the same time. Schuler, the company providing the monetary presses, set up a device to carry out this operation. This coin was also produced not only for Italy’s use, the IPZS produced this new coin for other countries as well. So, as far as modern coinage is concerned, yes, our Mint was the first to produce a bi-metallic coin for general circulation and it was big news at the time."
