2000 ITL #655

Front

View of Venice with the Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale) at center left, one of the most iconic Gothic buildings of Venice, the seat of the Doge and Venetian government from the 9th century until the fall of the Venetian Republic in 1797. The building represents Venice's historical importance as a center of commerce, art, and political power in the Mediterranean world.

Back

Galileo Galilei (1564–1621), Italian astronomer, physicist, engineer, and polymath who played a major role in the Scientific Revolution. He improved the telescope, made astronomical observations supporting heliocentrism, formulated the laws of motion and pioneered experimental science. He is widely regarded as the father of modern observational astronomy, modern physics, the scientific method, and modern science itself.

History

This note belongs to the 1983–1990 Galileo series issued by Banca d'Italia, which featured the great scientist on the 2000 lire denomination. The series was part of Italy's pre-euro currency system and was withdrawn from circulation when the euro replaced the Italian lira on 1 January 2002, with a demonetization deadline of 28 February 2002. The signatures indicate Carlo Azeglio Ciampi as Governor, who served from 1979 to 1993 before becoming Prime Minister and later President of Italy. The note bears the inscription 'LA LEGGE PUNISCE I FABBRICATORI E GLI SPACCIATORI DI BIGLIETTI FALSI' (The law punishes counterfeiters and distributors of false notes) and 'DECRETO MINISTERIALE 6 GENNAIO 1982' on the front, establishing the legal framework for this issue.