The 5,000 lire banknote with a single caravel on the reverse could break some records. And also smile the owner.
Gold banknotes were never created. However, if you dig long enough, you will realize that some pieces of the old coin have become real walking ingots today. For the old and dear lire this is worth more than ever. We probably all have them at home, for collectibles or simply as a souvenir. Among these, the most common will undoubtedly be those of small size, perhaps the 1,000 lire rather than the 10 thousand. However, for those who have the patience to do so, there will probably be some very old drawer to open.
The five thousand in question, in fact, are not the recent banknotes depicting the face of the composer Vincenzo Bellini, but the previous version with the effigy of Christopher Columbus on the front and that of one of its caravels on the back. A rare piece, naturally not common also for its dating but still feasible, perhaps if you are more advanced in years. But be careful: these banknotes are worth a lot but also have the peculiarity of having been printed in multiple versions.
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Gold banknote, that’s what a caravel is worth
Not all banknotes have the same value. Much depends on the date, on the state of conservation and also on the edition. For example, if you go back to 1964 and its 5,000 lire, the value will not be much. At the time, in fact, the printed pieces were millions and, therefore, easily traceable on the market (or in our drawers). A Brilliant Uncirculated, however, could also yield 360 euros. It goes better for the 5 thousand of ’66: just under 5 million pieces for the series from W1 to W49: 1,000 euros for a brilliant uncirculated.
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However, it was in 1970 that everything changed. The five thousand, on the reverse, show only one caravel among the three lots under the orders of the admiral towards the New World. The edition of the W63 series is very limited even if printing takes place in different versions. Given the rarity, a Brilliant Uncirculated in this case can be worth as much as 1,300 euros. For sure, this is the most profitable 5,000 banknote. Maybe our old tin boxes are worth a look. You never know …
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