The Vatican's euro coinage was produced before the country formally adopted the euro as legal tender — these 1998 issues are specimen strikes made in anticipation of Eurozone entry, which didn't occur until January 1, 1999, and Vatican circulation euros didn't reach the public until 2002. Struck under the authority of Pope John Paul II, who reigned during the entire transitional period, they were distributed primarily through Vatican philatelic and numismatic services rather than through any banking channel.
Mintage figures for Vatican euro specimens from this preparatory period are exceptionally low, typically in the low thousands.
The Vatican's euro coinage was produced before the country formally adopted the euro as legal tender — these 1998 issues are specimen strikes made in anticipation of Eurozone entry, which didn't occur until January 1, 1999, and Vatican circulation euros didn't reach the public until 2002. Struck under the authority of Pope John Paul II, who reigned during the entire transitional period, they were distributed primarily through Vatican philatelic and numismatic services rather than through any banking channel.
Mintage figures for Vatican euro specimens from this preparatory period are exceptionally low, typically in the low thousands.