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The National Monument to the Lira coin in Rieti: a statue of two million coins
Along the banks of the River Velino in Rieti stands a unique work: the Monumento Nazionale alla Lira. This is no ordinary statue. It was cast using over two million old 200-lire coins — a tangible, nostalgic tribute to the currency that went hand-in-hand with the country's history for more than a century.
A statue full of symbols
The work depicts Italia Turrita wearing the mural crown, a classic feature of national allegories, but with details that are entirely local in character. Her gaze is turned towards the river, a symbol of the city's prosperity. In her hands she holds not a sceptre, but an oversized one-Lira coin — or rather, two coins in one: on one side, the very first Lira ever minted; on the other, the very last.
The history of the Lira, step by step
The hexagonal base on which the statue rests is something of a small numismatic encyclopaedia. Twelve coins are set into it, tracing the entire life of the Lira, from the Unification of Italy to the arrival of the Euro. It is a detail that the hurried tourist overlooks, yet it tells a complete story in its own right.
The monument is located in Largo Benedetto Cairoli, close to the river, and is freely accessible at any time.
