The Vatican has started using souvenir coins bearing the image of the Pope to make change at grocery stores and the gas station, officials said.
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The EUobserver said the 50-cent coin has Pope Benedict XVI on it and has been authorized to be used as change in limited amounts.
The Vatican has been minting euro coins with Pope John Paul II on them since 2002, however, they have been restricted to collector sets.
The French news agency I.Media said the supply of Vatican coins in circulation is being restricted in order to support the price of the collector sets.