1000 — One Thousand Lira
The artwork
Front: Maria Montessori in old age, three-quarter profile, engraved by F. Zannotti after a design by Gio. Pino, with her name set vertically at the right edge. The value reads twice — "1000" in heavy claret figures and "LIRE MILLE" across the top, above "pagabili a vista al portatore". At centre-left a circular medallion holds the winged lion of St Mark with an open book, over small cross-bearing shields, against a dense field of coloured scale-work.
Back: Two children bent over their work at a school desk: a girl on the left, hair tied with a ribbon, resting on her arms beside an open book and inkwell; a boy beside her writing with a pen, sleeves rolled. A plain teaching scene rather than a monument, chosen to stand for the Montessori method. Engraved by A. De Angelis. "1000" in the upper right, with the counterfeiting warning below.
In circulation
Issued under the ministerial decree of 3 October 1990 and circulating through the 1990s as the last 1000-lire note, following the Marco Polo design. It was superseded by the euro: lire ceased to be legal tender on 28 February 2002, with exchange at the Banca d'Italia continuing for some years after.
Details
- CurrencyLira
- DenominationOne Thousand Lira
- Collectedon the Italy journeys, 2001–2016
- IssuerBanca d'Italia
- SeriesDecreto Ministeriale 3 ottobre 1990
- PrinterOfficina Carte Valori della Banca d'Italia
- SignatureCarlo A. Ciampi, Governatore; Speziali, Cassiere
- Dimensions112 × 62 mm