Some condo buildings in Rome, could afford elevators (lifts) only if they collected money “per use”. This is a picture of an existing lift in an elegant building in “Quartiere Trieste”, one of the most elegant neighborhoods in the city.

The grey box that you see on the right of the key pad is the coin box where you would have to insert 10 Lire in order for the lift to go up and down.
This is a perfectly functioning lift today, however the coin box has been disabled. No more coins to use it!

As a kid I always took the stairs and spend my 10 lire for the most rewarding gelato!

Ok… I am talking 1975 here….even if the date on the coin is 1951!
In the 70’s 10 lire was the equivalent of a half cent of a euro today…