Is it an Italian thing to put rivets through a flip?

I'd never seen rivets used to secure a coin in a flip, but I went on the Italian e-bay to try and find some Vatican coins and there were quite a few on that site. Here's what it looks like

http://www.ebay.it/itm/CITTA-DEL-VATICANO-PIO-XII-2-LIRE-1940-sigillata-FDC-SUBALPINA-/322630143600?hash=item4b1e414e70:g:5w4AAOSwxg5XzXm5

Yes, it is a very Italian way of 'slabbing' coins.

You see that very often for Italian (or Vatican) coins. It's the Italian counterpart of a slab. Coins in a flip secured by rivets are certified by the company written on the rivets.

Yup and in my another website, I contacted a meber who "slabbed" his gold 20 Lire coin like this. I got tensed at that.

Common in italy, its a bit comparable to the grading companies, like this numismatic shops certify a grade and authenticity of a coin.

Oh, so it's an official thing, not just someone at home with a rivet gun. You learn something new every day

The poor mans slab? Why does it say it is FDC? or am I reading it wrong... It looks like wear on the coin to me, but pics can be deceiving I suppose.

They look like clothing rivets that you can have custom made.

If you were to buy one like that, would you "break it out" and move it to a 2x2/capsule?

From the link you post I could see that the rivets has part of the name of the seller so rivets are customized... its not like everyone is using "ACME" rivets around.