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100 Lire Banco di Sicilia
| Issuer | Banco di Sicilia |
|---|---|
| Year | 1976-1977 |
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| Composition | Paper |
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| Obverse description | Printed in green and brown on a light-green underprint, the obverse carries a central ornamental vignette with typeset text in letterpress style. The full text of the promissory obligation — identifying the Catania branch, date of issue, and payee — is laid out across the face. Series designation and serial number appear at lower left, rendered in brown and black respectively. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | il BANCO DI SICILIA ISTITUTO DI CREDITO DI DIRITTO PUBBLICO Filiale di CATANIA, li 25 Ottobre 1976 a presentazione di questo vaglia cambiario pagherà LIRE CENTO *** a Societa Cattolica di Assicurazione-Verona BANCO DI SICILIA AMMINISTRAZIONE CENTRALE Lit. 100 SIACA ARTI GRAFICHE - 44042 CENTO (FERRARA) ITALY (Translation: The Bank of Sicily Public Law Credit Institute Catania Branch upon presentation of this promissory note, will pay One Hundred Lire to Bank of Sicily Central Administration 100 Italian Lire Siaca Graphic Arts, Cento Ferrara Italy) |
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| Comments |
By 1976, the Banco di Sicilia had long ceased to function as a bank of issue in any meaningful monetary sense — the Banca d'Italia had held that monopoly since 1926. These 100 Lire notes were essentially convenience instruments, issued to alleviate a chronic small-denomination coin shortage that plagued Italy through much of the 1970s. Municipalities, transport companies, and retailers all issued similar substitutes during this period, a workaround that the Italian government tolerated rather than endorsed.
SIACA, based in Cento near Ferrara, handled a significant share of Italy's emergency currency printing during the coin crisis years. Redemption was theoretically guaranteed but in practice inconsistent.