The Banca d'Italia issued Italian Lira banknotes in 10 different denominations, including this 5000 Italian Lire banknote (Vincenzo Bellini). They are part of the Italian Lira banknotes series. The Banca d'Italia started issuing these 5000 Italian Lira banknotes in 1985. They were withdrawn from circulation in 2002.
This lire cinquemila bill has the image of Vincenzo Bellini, Italian classic composer. Printed on the paper banknote is the text ‘Banca D’Italia’.
Front: Portrait of opera composer Vincenzo Salvatore Carmelo Francesco Bellini (3 November 1801 – 23 September 1835) from an etching by G. Bozza, after a drawing by Natale Schiavoni; Interior of Teatro Massimo Bellini, Opera House in Catania; Bank seal depicting winged lion of St. Mark, symbol of Venice above three shields of Genoa, Pisaand Amalfi; Chiaroscuro reproductions of adjacent rectangular figures.
Back: A stylised representation of a scene from Bellini's opera "Norma", the main elements being a tree and a column with pediment and the reproduction of the statue of Norma taken from the sculptor Giulio Monteverde's monument to Bellini in Catania.
Watermark: Portrait of Vincenzo Bellini; Electrotype "BI" monogram.
Drawing: Guglielmo Savini. Etching: Trento Cionini.
Paper: High quality, slightly coloured, special pulp, watermark, luminous fibrils and a vertical security thread.
Issuer: Bank of Italy. Date of Issue: 4 January 1985. Withdrawn: 28 February 2002. Exchanged until: 1 March 2012.
Legal tender: No. Characteristics: Copperplate, dry and wet offset. Issue: 1,400,000,000.
Printer: Officina della Banca d'Italia (Bank of Italy Printing Works).