Andorra's coinage authority issued this piece under the country's unique arrangement with the Catholic Church, which serves as one of Andorra's two co-princes — a feudal arrangement dating to a 1278 paréage between the Bishop of Urgell and the Count of Foix. Benedict XVI had been elected just the previous year, making this among the earliest numismatic acknowledgments of his pontificate. Andorra was not yet a eurozone member and produced these issues primarily for collectors rather than general circulation.
Andorra's coinage authority issued this piece under the country's unique arrangement with the Catholic Church, which serves as one of Andorra's two co-princes — a feudal arrangement dating to a 1278 paréage between the Bishop of Urgell and the Count of Foix. Benedict XVI had been elected just the previous year, making this among the earliest numismatic acknowledgments of his pontificate. Andorra was not yet a eurozone member and produced these issues primarily for collectors rather than general circulation.