Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Catholic school girls have thrown away their mascara ¹

Wackyweedia informs us that the Vatican, though not officially a member of the Eurozone, is nevertheless licensed to issue its own Vatican-City-themed Euro coins. Rather than having its own mint on the premises (which would require regular blessings and exorcisms to oust the demons taking up residence in the machinery) it apparently outsources the job to the Franklin Mint Italian mint (IPZS), much as I have outsourced the job of researching that last fact to J--.

During the interregnum after the death or resignation of a Pope, the Vatican switches to an alternative coat-of-arms; its postal administration “prepares and issues special postage stamps for use during this particular period, known as ‘sede vacante stamps’”; and it mints commemorative Euro coins marked with the arms of the "Cardinal Chamberlain" (Camerlengo). A 2008 change in Eurozone guidelines means that the next time this happens, the coins will not be legal tender outside the Vatican City (the same is true of the Pope).

There are opportunities here for a great heist movie but it is crucial for the story-line to include Michael Caine and a small fleet of Mini Minors.

Sorry, did I say "minor"? Not intending to trigger anyone.

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¹ Title suggested by M. Bouffant in comments

17 comments:

ckc (not kc) said...

I think "theme" currency is the wave of the future (quit your yapping!)

A seven-foot diameter rai stone is exhibited in the garden of the lobby of the Bank of Canada, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. ...this is what you might call an object lesson.

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

May I ASSume that this post is untittled because it's a shout-out to the Pope?
~

Smut Clyde said...

More that I couldn't think of an appropriate line from a BOC song.

Hamish Mack said...

It's supposed to stretch your imagination Thundra. Unstructured playtime and all that.

Substance McGravitas said...

Curse you!

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

Unstructured playtime and all that.

That's what Father Badtouch said.
~

M. Bouffant said...

"Catholic school girls have thrown away their mascara"

Semi-appropriate.

J— said...

I just assumed the title was vacante.

fish said...

Show your work.

zombie rotten mcdonald said...

About time someone used the drag n drop Bad Ronald glasses.

Smut Clyde said...

Nice rocks, fish.

fish said...

Catching them blinking was the trick.

Big Bad Bald Bastard said...

I am waiting for the Vatican's entry in the Eurovision song contest.

Hamish Mack said...

"Bing bing a bonk"

Substance McGravitas said...

Stum On Bum Yum Yum

Smut Clyde said...

The Finns have already used the hideous monster-mask gimmick.

J— said...

I am waiting for the Vatican's entry in the Eurovision song contest.

A true test of state sovereignty.