1979 AD., Vatican, John Paul II, Rome mint, 50 Lire, KM 145.

Vatican City, John Paul II, Rome mint, engraver: Guido Veroi, dated in Latin numerals MCMLXXIX = 1979 AD.,
50 Lire (ø 24,8 mm / 6,24 g), stainless steel (magnetic), 6,20 g. (?) theor. mint weight, mintage 223.000 , axes coin alignment ↑↓ (180°), reeded edge,
Obv.: IOANNES PAVLVS II - P.M.A.I·MCMLXXIX / VEROI , bust of John Paul II facing left, engraver´s name r. below.
Rev.: CITTA' - DEL - VATICANO / L./50 / {SIPZ} / IVSTITIA , crowned Justice sitting facing half right in a chair, her head right, holding sword and wreath, two additional wreaths below, mint mark {SIPZ} -monogram (a mint mark?) below value.
KM 145 .

Year / Mintage / Papal and Latin date
1979 223.000 P.M.A.I·MCMLXXIX
1980 250.000 P.M.A.II·MCMLXXX

Pope John Paul II (Latin: Ioannes Paulus II), sometimes called Blessed John Paul or John Paul the Great, born Karol Józef Wojtyła (18 May 1920 – 2 April 2005), was the head of the Catholic Church from 16 October 1978 to his death in 2005. He was the second longest-serving pope in history and, as a Pole, the first non-Italian since Pope Adrian VI, who died in 1523.

John Paul II is considered one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century. He is recognised as helping to end Communist rule in his native Poland and eventually all of Europe. John Paul II significantly improved the Catholic Church's relations with Judaism, Islam, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Anglican Communion. Controversially, he upheld the Church's teachings against artificial contraception and the ordination of women, he supported the Church's Second Vatican Council and its reform, and he held firm orthodox Catholic stances. He is known for his implementation of several papal documents pertaining to the role of the Church in the modern world.

Karol Józef Wojtyła was born in the Polish town of Wadowice. He was the youngest of three children born to Karol Wojtyła (1879–1941), an ethnic Pole, and Emilia Kaczorowska (1884–1929), whose mother's maiden surname was Scholz.