1 Euro

Vatican coin production is tied directly to papal reigns, and 2012 fell during the final full year of Benedict XVI's pontificate before his February 2013 resignation — the first papal abdication in nearly six centuries. Annual Vatican euro sets are struck in strictly limited quantities by the Italian State Mint under a monetary agreement with the Holy See, making circulation finds essentially nonexistent. Most examples go directly from mint sets into collections without ever exchanging hands as currency.