# Italian inheritance dispute over lire conversion

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/italian-inheritance-dispute-over-lire-conversion
> Updated: 2026-09-27T03:55:00.000Z. Sources: 14. Developments: 2.

Stefano P., a 51-year-old resident of Cuneo, discovered more than two billion Italian lire in a bank safe deposit box belonging to his deceased uncle. At the official conversion rate, the sum is valued at approximately 1.03 million euros.

The Banca d'Italia has refused to convert the currency into euros, noting that the legal deadline for ordinary exchange ended on February 28, 2012. Under current regulations, conversion is only permitted in exceptional cases where a formal request was submitted during a specific window between December 2011 and February 2012.

In response to the refusal, Stefano has sought legal assistance. His representatives are considering a lawsuit based on Article 2935 of the Italian Civil Code, arguing that the ten-year statute of limitations should only begin from the date the funds were discovered, as the heir had no prior knowledge of the money.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-27: Italy man unable to claim million-euro inheritance in old lire

An Italian man discovered two billion old lire in his late uncle's safe, but the Bank of Italy has refused to convert the currency into euros due to expired deadlines.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italy-man-unable-to-claim-million-euro-inheritance-in-old-lire

### 2026-09-20: Italian man finds 2 billion lire in deceased uncle's safe

An Italian man discovered over two billion lire in his late uncle's safe, worth over €1 million, but the central bank refuses to convert the defunct currency into euros.

12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italian-man-finds-2-billion-lire-in-deceased-uncles-safe-deposit-box

---
Cite as: Italian inheritance dispute over lire conversion. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/italian-inheritance-dispute-over-lire-conversion