20 Euros - The Three Magi riding two horses and a camel

Part of the Vatican's annual Christmas coin program, this issue falls within a series tradition that dates to the pontificate of John Paul II, when themed religious silver coins became a reliable fixture of Vatican numismatic output. The choice to depict the Magi reflects longstanding Western iconographic convention rather than scripture — the Bible never specifies three visitors, nor does it mention camels. That detail solidified in early Christian tradition and was essentially codified by the 8th century.

KM#579 was struck at the Italian State Mint (Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato) in Rome, which has held the Vatican minting contract for decades.