A 50-cent euro coin bearing the image of Pope Benedict XVI has begun circulating in Vatican City for the first time since the Holy See adopted the currency in 2002, a report said Thursday.For eight years, the Vatican City euros served only as popular collectors' items, initially featuring the face of Benedict's predecessor John Paul II.
Under an agreement reached with the European Union last year, however, the Vatican must circulate at least 51 per cent of its currency at face value, and the Holy See last week began using its 50-cent coins to satisfy the requirement.
But the coins, which can only be found inside Vatican walls, are hard to come by.SIC: OC