Vatican Coins and Stamps: Agreement Bbetween the Governorate of Vatican City State and the Italian Mint, with the School of Medallic Art taking center stage

The agreement was signed this morning by the President of the Governorate, Sister Raffaella Petrini, and the CEO of the Italian Mint (IPZS) Michele Sciscioli.

Vatican City, 21 April 2026 – Starting today, students of the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato (IPZS) have the opportunity to submit creative projects to the Governorate for the production of coins and stamps issued by the Vatican City State.

The Memorandum of Understanding, signed this morning by the President of the Governorate, Sister Raffaella Petrini, and the Chief Executive Officer of the (IPZS), Michele Sciscioli, represents an extraordinary recognition for the historic School of the State Mint, which since 1907 has been part of Italy’s cultural and educational heritage, and is further evidence of the Governorate’s commitment to investing concretely in young talent.

The agreement — renewable and lasting three years — provides for various activities in the field of numismatic and philatelic production: the involvement of students and scholarship recipients of the School of Medallic Art (SAM) in special projects promoted or commissioned by the Governorate; the development and implementation of joint projects and experimental activities aimed at innovation; and the exchange and sharing of knowledge, experience, and best practices through meetings, workshops, and seminars.

The Memorandum follows the successful collaborative experience launched for the issuance of the traditional 2025 Holy Christmas collector coin: a €25 silver coin, rectangular in shape and featuring colored elements, inspired by the Adoration of the Shepherds, a masterpiece housed in the Gallery of Tapestries in the Vatican Museums. On that occasion, the Governorate organized a competition of ideas and sketches involving the best students and scholarship recipients of the art school, offering them the opportunity to engage with a highly prestigious institutional and creative assignment. Among the submitted proposals, the design by SAM scholarship recipient Giada Reale was selected and subsequently minted at the IPZS facilities.