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100 Lire Banco di Sicilia
| Issuer | Banco di Sicilia |
|---|---|
| Year | 1976-1977 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Size | 105 × 65 mm |
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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 | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Printed in green on a beige and green underprint, the reverse bears a central vignette of a horse-drawn chariot rendered in green intaglio-style line work. Restriction text, payee information, and signature(s) are placed to the left of the vignette. |
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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.