Italy 500 Lire {1982-1995} front: Mercury is a major Roman god, being one of the Dii Consentes within the ancient Roman pantheon. He is the patron god of financial gain, commerce, eloquence (and thus poetry), messages/communication (including divination), travelers, boundaries, luck, trickery and thieves; he is also the guide of souls to the underworld Mercury was also considered a god of abundance and commercial success, particularly in Gaul, where he was said to have been particularly revered. back: Piazza del Quirinale, Rome - Braille at top of outer ring The Quirinal Palace (known in Italian as the Palazzo del Quirinale or simply Quirinale) is a historic building in Rome, Italy, one of the three current official residences of the President of the Italian Republic, together with Villa Rosebery in Naples and tenuta di Castelporziano. It is located on the Quirinal Hill, the highest of the seven hills of Rome. It has housed thirty Popes, four Kings of Italy and twelve presidents of the Italian Republic. The palace extends for an area of 110,500 square metres and is the ninth-largest palace in the world in terms of area. By way of comparison, the White House in the United States is one-twentieth of its size. demonetized (no longer in circulation) polished Bi-Metallic coins Bronzital center in Acmonital ring diameter: 25.8 mm {LARGER THAN SIZE OF A USA 25 CENT QUARTER COIN} weight: 6.8 g Italy 500 Lire {1982-1995} 148S