1983 AD., Italy, Rome mint, 500 Lire, KM 111.

Italy, Republic, Rome mint, designer: Laura Cretara, 1983 AD.,
500 Lire (25,8 mm / 6,75 g), bimetallic: bronze alloy (bronzital) center in stainless steel (acmonital) ring, 6,80 g. theor. mint weight, mintage 138.000.000 , coin alignment ↑↓ (180°),
Obv.: REPUBBLICA ITALIANA * / CRETARA , female winged head facing left (Mercury ?), designer´s name below truncation.
Rev.: ⠨⠇⠄⠼⠑⠚⠚⠄/ L. 500 // R - 1983 , Piazza del Quirinale with the statue of the Dioscuri, flanked by wheat ear (on l.) and olive sprig (r.); value in Braille on top for blind people.
Edge: alternating smooth and reeded segments.
KM 111 .

Year / Mint Mark / Mintage
1982 R 162,026,000 (large head ?)
1982 R (incl. above) (small head ?)
1983 R 138,000,000
1984 R 162,000,000
1985 R 162,000,000 (large signature)
1985 R (incl. above) (small signature)
1985 R 20,000 (proof)
1986 R 165,000,000 (small signature)
1986 R 17,500 (proof)
1987 R 200,000,000 (large signature)
1987 R (incl. above) (small signature)
1987 R 1,000 (proof)
1988 R 142,000,000
1988 R 9,000 (proof)
1989 R 155,000,000
1989 R 9,250 (proof)
1990 R 130,000,000
1990 R 9,400 (proof)
1991 R 140,000,000 (small head)
1991 R (large head)
1991 R 11,400 (proof)
1992 R 150,000,000 (small head)
1992 R (incl. above) (large head)
1992 R 9,500 (proof)
1995 R 110,000,000
1995 R 7,960 (proof)
1999 R ? (proof)
2000 R 10,000 (proof)
2000 R 61,400 (in sets only)
2001 R 10,000 (proof)
2001 R 100,000 (in sets only)

This 500 Lira type was the first bimetallic coin minted in the world.
It´s also the world’s first coin to be issued with Braille on the reverse. The Braille system is a method that is widely used by blind people to read and write, and was the first digital form of writing.
Braille was devised in 1825 by Louis Braille, a blind Frenchman.