The switch to stainless steel for this issue was a direct consequence of Italy's wartime material demands — nickel, previously used for Vatican coinage, was being diverted to armament production under the Axis war economy. Vatican mintage figures for 1940–1941 are extremely low, as annual coin sets were produced primarily for collectors rather than circulation, making genuine wear on surviving examples genuinely unusual.
The switch to stainless steel for this issue was a direct consequence of Italy's wartime material demands — nickel, previously used for Vatican coinage, was being diverted to armament production under the Axis war economy. Vatican mintage figures for 1940–1941 are extremely low, as annual coin sets were produced primarily for collectors rather than circulation, making genuine wear on surviving examples genuinely unusual.