The 800 lire commemorative stamp of the 2001 series dedicated to Christmas festivities was issued on October 31st 2001 with permanent validity. This is the last Italian stamp issued with indication of the value both in Italian Lira and Euro currencies. This double currency system was introduced at the beginning of 1999, when definitive official Lira/Euro exchange rate was unveiled: from that moment, all new Italian stamp had to show double value in Lira and Euro. This double value indication ceased at the end of 2001, when Lira, as well as all other European currencies, was dismissed.
Between June 21st 1999 and December 31st 2001 the franking rate for a ordinary courier within Italy was 800 lire. The object presented below was sent from Palermo to Palermo on December 1st 2001.
