1000 ITL #656

Front

Giuseppe Verdi (1813–1901), Italy's greatest opera composer, known for works including La Traviata, Rigoletto, and Aida. The front features ornate guilloche patterns with two circular clear fields for watermark visibility, Italian coat of arms with the she-wolf of Rome at left, and the text 'CINQUECENTO' (Five Hundred) in large letters at bottom. The denomination 'LIRE' appears at center-right. Verdi appeared on this series as a symbol of Italian cultural achievement during the post-war Republic period.

Back

Giuseppe Verdi portrait at right, with an outline map of Italy in the background showing Rome and the Italian peninsula. The text 'PAGABILI A VISTA AL PORTATORE' (Payable on sight to bearer) appears at top. The denomination '1000' is prominently displayed vertically at center-left, with 'LIRE MILLE' at top and 'BANCA D'ITALIA' at bottom. The coat of arms with the Capitoline Wolf appears at upper center, symbolizing Rome as the capital of the Italian Republic.

History

This is part of the Giuseppe Verdi 1000 lire series issued by Banca d'Italia during the Italian Republic period, first introduced in 1962 and continuing through multiple signature variants until 1983. The series honored the composer Giuseppe Verdi, whose image appeared on Italian currency for decades. The note bears signatures of Il Governatore (Governor) Carlo A. Ciampi and Il Cassiere (Cashier) whose signature appears as 'Filippo'. Carlo Azeglio Ciampi served as Governor of the Bank of Italy from 1979 to 1993, which helps date this note to the 1979–1983 period of this series. The Italian lira was replaced by the euro in 2002. Pick number P-101 represents the standard type for this denomination and design in the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money.