The little aluminum 5 lire with a dolphin on one side and a ship’s rudder on the other is one of the most recognizable coins of the Italian Republic — pocket change for generations, now a nostalgic type-set staple. Designed by Giuseppe Romagnoli, it ran from 1951 to 1998. This entry covers its specs and why collectors still chase high-grade examples.
Key facts
- Specifications: aluminum, ~1g, 20.2mm diameter, plain edge; Rome mint (“R”).
- Obverse: ship’s rudder with REPVBBLICA ITALIANA; reverse: dolphin with denomination and date; designer Giuseppe Romagnoli.
- Struck 1951–1998 (KM#92); the series is collected as a long-date run where condition is everything since most circulated heavily.