5000 ITL #650

Front

Industrial motifs representing Italian economic development and technological progress in the late 19th/early 20th century. The front features telegraph transmission equipment (right) and electrical transmission towers (left), symbolizing Italy's industrial modernization. The text 'DECRETO MINISTERIALE 3 OTTOBRE 1990' identifies this as issued under the ministerial decree of October 3, 1990. The warning text states 'LA LEGGE PUNISCE I FABBRICATORI E GLI SPACCIATORI DI BIGLIETTI FALSI' (The law punishes counterfeiters and distributors of false notes).

Back

Vincenzo Bellini (1801–1835), Italian opera composer of the bel canto era, best known for his operas Norma, La sonnambula, and I puritani. Behind his portrait appears the Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania (his birthplace), the opera house built 1870–1890 and named in his honor. Musical notation from one of his compositions appears in the background. Bellini is one of Italy's most celebrated cultural figures, his work defining the romantic opera tradition.

History

This 5000 lire note belongs to the Bellini series issued by the Banca d'Italia between 1985 and 1992, with this specific variant (P-113c with signatures of Governor Carlo Azeglio Ciampi and Cashier F. Masera) printed from 1990. The front's industrial imagery reflects Italy's modernization themes common in late-period lire designs. The series was withdrawn from circulation following the introduction of the euro in 2002. The serial number format VC-######-S follows standard Banca d'Italia practice; no documented serial-year encoding is known for this series. The note was printed at the Officina della Banca d'Italia, the Bank's own printing facility.