This piece was struck in the final months of John Paul II's pontificate — he died in April 2005 — making issues dated that year a transitional curiosity produced under sede vacante conditions before Benedict XVI's election in April of the same year. Vatican annual sets from 2005 were consequently issued in two distinct versions, one for each pontificate, keeping mintages for each type tightly controlled.
This piece was struck in the final months of John Paul II's pontificate — he died in April 2005 — making issues dated that year a transitional curiosity produced under sede vacante conditions before Benedict XVI's election in April of the same year. Vatican annual sets from 2005 were consequently issued in two distinct versions, one for each pontificate, keeping mintages for each type tightly controlled.