ITALY

Face value - 1000 lire
Metal � copper-nickel-brass
Mintage � *** pieces
In circulation since 1997

European Union
On the 27th of May, 1952 France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands signed a Treaty of European defensive community foundation, and it was the first step in military and political integration of European countries. In 1957 in Rome European economical community was founded, in 1973 "the six" turned to be "the nine": Denmark, UK and Norway joined to it. Soon after Greece, Spain and Portugal had got democracy regimes in late 70ties, it became possible for them to join EU. On the 7th of February, 1992 an official ceremony of signature of Treaty of the European Union took place in Maastricht (the Netherlands). In 1994 Austria, Sweden and Finland joined EU. In Norway for the second time by a majority of votes was decided not to join EU. In 2004 10 new members have joined EU � it was Cyprus, Czech republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland,  Slovakia and Slovenia.

On the stylized map of Europe, which a coin shows, due to Italian creators' mistakes Germany has its old borders before 1989, Denmark is a part of Germany, the Netherlands is part of Belgium. These mistakes were corrected, but without putting error coins out of circulation.