The Italian 500 lire silver coin was a standard circulation and commemorative coin issued from 1958 until 2001 (though production for circulation ended earlier, with later coins for collectors). Coin Specifications: Composition: .835 silver fineness (83.5% pure). Total Weight: 11 grams. Actual Silver Weight (ASW): Approximately 9.19 grams (0.2953 ounces). Historical Context Design: The obverse typically features Christopher Columbus's ships (Nina, Pinta, Santa Maria), while the reverse depicts a Renaissance-style bust of a woman symbolizing Italy, surrounded by the shields of 19 Italian provinces. Edge Lettering: A unique feature of the silver 500 lire is that the date is inscribed on the edge with raised lettering, along with the inscription "REPVBBLICA ITALIANA". Replacement: The silver 500 lire was later replaced by a bi-metallic coin in 1982, and the entire Lira currency was demonetized when Italy adopted the Euro in February 2002. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- a 1863 Vittorio Emanuele II 50 centesimi coin. The obverse features a profile portrait of King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy facing right. The inscription around the portrait reads "VITTORIO EMANUELE II". The date "1863" is visible at the bottom of the coin. The coin is made of 835 fine silver. It has a diameter of 23 mm and a weight of 5 grams.