Collodi, 5,000 proof 10 euro coins on sale from November 4

The Ministry of Economy and Finance has set the mintage of the nickel-brass 10 euro coin in proof version dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the birth of Carlo Collodi at 5,000 pieces. This is established by the decree of October 19, 2026, of the Director General of the Economy, published in the Official Gazette of the Italian Republic, General Series n. 250 of October 27, 2026, with the official reference 26A05612. The coin, packaged in a special container, will be available from November 4, 2026, and the public price for a single purchase is 46.89 euros, excluding VAT.

Mintage and technical characteristics

The measure implements the decree of the Director General of the Economy of December 23, 2025, prot. MEF-DE n. 53807/2025, published in the Official Gazette General Series n. 301 of December 30, 2025, which had authorized the issuance of the coin and defined its technical and artistic characteristics. The same decree had established legal tender starting from January 1, 2026.

Total nominal value: 50,000 euros, equal to 5,000 pieces.
Unit nominal value: 10 euros.
Version: proof, mint year 2026, in nickel-brass with dedicated packaging.
Public availability: from November 4, 2026.

Prices, discounts, and purchase methods

The coins can be purchased by entities, associations, and private individuals, Italian or foreign, until May 4, 2027. There are four planned channels: online at the website www.shop.ipzs.it; directly at the points of sale of the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato S.p.a., with payment in cash within legal limits or via POS; at the Poligrafico’s exhibition spaces during sector events or exhibitions; via purchase request by e-mail to protocollo@ipzs.it, reserved for companies, public administrations, foundations, and the subjects to whom the coin is dedicated.

Discounts for substantial orders apply to the unit prices, with three tiers:

from 1 to 99 units: 46.89 euros;
from 100 to 299 units: 43.28 euros;
from 300 units and up: 40.12 euros.

Shipping costs are borne by the recipient, except for specific conditions indicated on the Poligrafico website. Should requests exceed availability, a proportional allocation will be carried out, and the Poligrafico may reserve a quota of the mintage for its points of sale, for exhibitions and events, and for the needs of the public administration. For information, the toll-free number 800864035 and the address informazioni@ipzs.it are active.

State revenues and accounting management

Article 4 of the decree quantifies the payments due from the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato S.p.a. to the non-interest-bearing current account no. 20708 opened at the Bank of Italy – State Central Treasury, named “Special Fund for State coins and banknotes - Coins Section Numismatic Account”:

royalties of 0.94 euros for each coin, on the entire contingent of 5,000 specimens, for a total of 4,700 euros;
nominal value of 10 euros for each coin sold.

Payments must be made by July 31, 2027. The withdrawal from the account is entrusted to the manager of Office IX of Directorate I of the Department of Economy, acting as special cashier, with the assistance of the manager of Office VIII as chief controller; the sums are charged to Head X - Chapter 5010, while the residue is paid to Head X - Chapter 2382. The Special Fund is also authorized to deliver the coins to the Institute for “safe custody” to enable their sale.

The regulatory framework of reference

The issuance is based on a series of regulations cited in the preamble: law July 13, 1966, n. 559 on the organization of the State Printing Office; art. 1 of law March 18, 1968, n. 309, which provides for the transfer of specially manufactured coins to entities, associations, and private individuals; law April 20, 1978, n. 154, establishing the Mint section; legislative decree April 21, 1999, n. 116 on the transformation into a joint-stock company; art. 87, paragraph 5, of law December 27, 2002, n. 289 on the minting of coins for collectors; art. 8 of decree-law January 8, 1996, n. 6, converted by law March 6, 1996, n. 110, on the revenues to be paid to the Ministry. The decree also incorporates note prot. 5128 of January 23, 2026, with which the Printing Office communicated the approval of the fees for the 2026 numismatic coinage by its board of directors, in the session of January 22, 2026, upon the proposal of the Price Commission. The measure is signed in Rome, October 19, 2026, by the Director General of Economy Soro, and will be transmitted for communication to the Central Budget Office.

Why it interests collectors

With 5,000 proof pieces, the mintage is kept at low levels and the price of 46.89 euros incorporates a premium of nearly five times the nominal value: elements that make the issuance appealing for numismatic collecting, but also sensitive to the proportional allocation mechanism in the event that demand exceeds availability. The purchase window, open from November 4, 2026 and closing on May 4, 2027, however, leaves a wide margin, while discounts for 100 and 300 units open the door to professional operators and institutions.

Official source: Official Gazette of the Italian Republic, General series no. 250 of October 27, 2026 — decree of October 19, 2026 of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, “Quota, transfer methods and sales proceeds of the 10 euro nickel-brass coin commemorating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Carlo Collodi, in proof version, year 2026” (26A05612).