Re: CHAT: San Marino
| From: | Padraic Brown <pbrown@...> |
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| Date: | Wednesday, August 23, 2000, 17:32 |
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On Wed, 23 Aug 2000, John Cowan wrote:
>Leo Caesius wrote:
>
>> San Marino is undoubtedly the oldest Republic in Europe. It was also
>> the only country in the West to become Communist for a brief period... you
>> don't need a visa to visit San Marino from Italy, and if you want them to
>> stamp your passport, it will cost you (10,000 lire, IIRC).
>Which is to say 5.37 euros (yes, "euros"; English is not German) or US$4.82.
>Not too outrageous.
Actually E5.16 (or $US4.63). Gets cheaper all the time! :)
>Is San Marino part of the euro zone? I suppose it must be.
Technically no (nor Vatican, Monaco, Andorra, etc.) I think Vatican
and San Marinerian lire are legally tied to the Italian lira; so
either they will continue to use lire (at L1 = E0.0005) or else
they will make (currently) unofficial euros. I kind of hope they
will, as the Italian designs truly kick European arse. :) (See
<www.rsip.lsu.edu/tom/euro/>) The Greek designs can be seen at
<http://www.bankofgreece.gr/en/euro/coins.htm>. The only other
country that comes close is Austria; and God only knows what
Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg were thinking.
The 12 countries are: Austria, Belgium, Germany, Finland, France,
Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal.
On an interesting linguistic note, Greece is the only country that
will retain a national name for one of the denominations. They
will have euros (evro) like everyone else; but will have lepta
(s. lepto') in stead of cents.
Padraic.