2026-03-15 16:31
publication
2026-03-15 16:31
A resident of northern Italy learned that a symbolic deposit of one thousand lire, made over 60 years ago by his parents in a savings bank, is now worth approximately EUR 50,000. He found the document regarding the deposit intended for him, then a child, in an old chest.
As the Italian news agency Agi, which reported the story, noted, “sometimes reality likes to imitate the script of a theater play, with a full set of plot twists and treasures hidden under a layer of dust.” This, she added, was what 72-year-old resident of Alta Valsassina in Lombardy, northern Italy, Umberto Libassi, experienced.
In 1963, his parents, theater actors, deposited the then symbolic sum of one thousand lire in a savings bank in Trieste intended for him; he was 9 years old then. Over 60 years ago, for this amount you could buy two or three newspapers, two liters of milk or eat a cheap dinner.
The document with proof of payment was placed in an old chest, along with theater costumes, props and scripts. It was stored in a warehouse.
During a recent move, a man decided to sort out the theater memorabilia of his deceased parents and then he found a yellowed piece of paper in a box.
Intrigued by this find, the actors' son turned to the Rome consumer protection association to find out whether this bank document had any significance today. The consultant's response exceeded his wildest expectations: after capitalization, accrued interest and currency conversion over a period of 63 years, one thousand lire turned into a sum of approximately EUR 50,000.
As explained, since the owner was unaware of the existence of the deposit in the bank during all this time, the right to claim should not be time-barred. Legal steps are currently being taken to enable the payment of the amount equivalent to five coffees in a bar from over 60 years ago.
From Rome Sylwia Wysocka (PAP)
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