20 Euros - Franciscus Paul V

Issued under the Vatican's annual collector coin program, this 2021 piece commemorates Francisco de Zurbarán's painting of Paul V — part of a series connecting papal reigns to significant works of art held in Vatican collections. Paul V, born Camillo Borghese, reigned from 1605 to 1621 and is perhaps best remembered for initiating the condemnation of Galileo in 1616, a process his successor Urban VIII would eventually formalize.

Vatican gold issues of this denomination are struck in strictly limited quantities for the collector market, with no circulation release — mintage figures are set by Governatorato decree each year.