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0 Euro Pope Benedict XVI
| Issuer | EuroSouvenir |
|---|---|
| Year | 2019-2021 |
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| Composition | Paper |
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| Obverse description | Central vignette shows Pope Benedict XVI in papal vestments raising his right hand in benediction, with Cologne Cathedral rendered in fine engraved detail to the right. A large stylised zero occupies the upper left, flanked by the EU flag; guilloche underprint in violet and ochre tones covers the field. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Standard EuroSouvenir reverse with vignettes of six European landmarks arranged across the note: the Brandenburg Gate, Belem Tower, Eiffel Tower, Colosseum, Sagrada Família, and Manneken Pis. A reproduction of the Mona Lisa appears at right, all set over a multicolour guilloche underprint. |
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| Comments |
EuroSouvenir notes occupy a peculiar niche: legal tender-style printing applied to a denomination that cannot actually be spent. The program, sanctioned by the European Central Bank, allows licensed printers to produce collectible zero-denomination notes that conform to euro security specifications — including Oberthur's intaglio printing and embedded security features — without entering monetary circulation. The authorization is tightly controlled; Oberthur Fiduciaire is one of only a handful of approved producers.
Benedict XVI abdicated in 2013, the first pope to do so since Gregory XII in 1415. Issuing a souvenir note years after his resignation rather than during his pontificate is a quietly telling detail about what drives this market.