Italy

Castel del Monte near Bari.

The Mole Antonelliana tower in Turin.

The Coliseum of Rome, the famous amphitheatre built by emperors Vespasian and Titus that was inaugurated in 80 AD.

Detail of 'The birth of Venus', the famous painting by Sandro Botticelli, and a triumph of Italian art.

Sculpture by Umberto Boccioni, a master of the Italian futurist movement.

The paving design of Piazza del Campidoglio with the equestrian statue of emperor Marcus Aurelius.

The Vitruvian man, the famous drawing by Leonardo da Vinci showing the ideal proportions of the human body.

Portrait drawn by Raphaël of Dante Alighieri, housed in the Pope Julius II Wing of the Vatican City Palace. Edge lettering of the €2 coin: 2*, repeated six times, alternately upright and inverted.

The design depicts, in the centre, a stylized version of the heraldic symbol of Guardia di Finanza Corps: it portrays the concept of security and provides a future vision of the Corps’ role celebrating the past, by combining it with the years to come and challenges they will continue to face. This emblem includes different elements: mountain, sea and the sky, which are the natural environments where Corps operate; the Griffon, a mythological animal which, according to the legend, supervises protection of the Treasury, represented by the chest of the State, and the turreted crown. At the top, in semi-circle, is the inscription ‘GUARDIA DI FINANZA’. Below, ‘RI’, acronym of the Italian Republic and the dates ‘1774-2024’, year of the establishment of the Guardia di Finanza Corps and year of coin’s issue respectively; on the right, ‘R’, identifying the Mint of Rome and ‘MB’, the initials of designer Marta Bonifacio. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issued date: March 2024

The design depicts in the foreground, a half-length portrait of Rita Levi-Montalcini inspired by a Manuela Fabbri’s photography; in the background, a microscope, taken from a medal designed by Gino Levi-Montalcini, brother of the well renown scientist, whose base is horseshoe shaped, as a good luck charm for the awarding of the Nobel Prize for Medicine in the 1986. Above, the arch-shaped inscription ‘RITA LEVI-MONTALCINI’; on the left ‘RI’, acronym of the Italian Republic and ‘R’, identifying the Mint of Rome; below ‘2024’, the year of the coin’s issue; on the right, ‘SP’, initials of the designer Silvia Petrassi. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issued date: April 2024

The design features the half-length portrait of Alessandro Manzoni, inspired by the image of the Italian writer as depicted on the 100 000 lire banknote issued in 1967. On the left, ‘RI’, acronym of the Italian Republic, the dates ‘1873-2023’, the year of the death of the writer and the year of the coin’s issue, respectively, and the arch-shaped inscription ‘ALESSANDRO MANZONI’. On the right, ‘R’, identifying the Mint of Rome, and ‘AV’, initials of the designer Antonio Vecchio. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issued date: May 2023

The design depicts the reproduction of the logo of the Centenary of the Air Force. On the left ‘R’, identifying the Mint of Rome; above, ‘RI’, acronym of the Italian Republic; below, the arch-shaped inscription ‘AERONAUTICA MILITARE’; on the right, ‘VdS’, initials of the designer Valerio De Seta. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issued date: March 2023

Common issue

The design is a mix of two major elements of the Erasmus programme: the original intellectual inspiration, Erasmus himself, and the allegory of its influence over Europe.

The first one is symbolised by one of the most known depiction of Erasmus.

The second one is symbolised by a beam of links going across the coin from a beacon to another, representing the numerous intellectual and human exchanges between the European students.

As a reference to Europe, some of these links form other stars, born from the synergy between the countries.

The figure 35, for 35th anniversary comes out from the stars in a contemporary graphical style.

The outer ring depicts the twelve stars of the European flag.

Issued date: July 2022

The design depicts two officers of the ‘Polizia di Stato’ (Italian National Police Force), a woman and a man, standing out in the foreground, in front of a police car. Above, the arc-shaped inscription ‘POLIZIA DI STATO’; at the right ‘RI’, acronym of the Italian Republic; the inscription ‘R’, identifying the Mint of Rome, the initials ‘AM’ of the designer Annalisa Masini and the dates ‘1852 - 2022’, appear at the left, in the centre and at the right, respectively.

The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issued date: January 2022

The design depicts in the centre the portraits of the two Italian judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, inspired by a picture of Tony Gentile. Above, the arc-shaped inscription ‘FALCONE – BORSELLINO’, underneath the dates ‘1992 2022’, with the acronym of the Italian Republic ‘RI’ in between; on the right, ‘R’, identifying the Mint of Rome; on the left, ‘VdS’, initials of the designer Valerio de Seta.

The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issued date: January 2022

The design depicts a detail of the Dea Roma, a sculpture by Angelo Zanelli inserted in the center of the Altare della Patria, a large votive altar dedicated to the Italian nation set in the Vittoriano complex in Rome. Above, the legend ‘ROMA CAPITALE’; on the right, the dates ‘•1871•2021•’, the year of the proclamation of Rome as the Capital of Italy and that of the coin’s issue respectively; on the left, ‘RI’, acronym of the Italian Republic, and ‘R’, identifying the Mint of Rome; in exergue, ‘UP’, initials of the designer Uliana Pernazza.

The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issued date: January 2021

The design depicts in the centre, a man and a woman in medical clothing with masks, a stethoscope and a medical folder representing doctors and nurses working on the front line in the fight against COVID-19. Above, the word ‘GRAZIE’ followed, on the right, by a heart symbol; on the left, a reproduction of the medical cross; in the centre, ‘RI’, acronym of the Italian Republic; on the right, ‘R’, identifying the Mint of Rome; below,, on the left, ‘CM’, initials of the designer Claudia Momoni; in exergue, the year of the coin’s issue ‘2021’.

The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issued date: June 2021

A portrait of Maria Montessori in a geometric composition with some of didactic elements drawn from her educational system. In the right field, ‘RI’, acronym of the Italian Republic; on the left, ‘R’, identifying the Mint of Rome; on the right, ‘LDS’, initials of the designer Luciana De Simoni; at the top and bottom, the dates ‘1870’ e ‘2020’, the year of birth of the Italian pedagogue and that of coin’s issue, respectively; around the portrait, the inscription ‘MARIA MONTESSORI’.

Issued date: June 2020

In the center, the logo of the National Fire Brigade. On the left the monogram of the Italian Republic "RI"; on the right the year of issue "2020" and the mint mark "R", identifying the Mint of Rome; below the initials of the author Luciana De Simoni "LDS"; around the arch the inscription "NATIONAL BODY OF FIRE BRIGADE. On the outer edge 12 five-pointed stars representing the European Union.

Issued date: September 2020

he design shows a detail of the painting ‘Dama con l'ermellino’ (Lady with an Ermine) by Leonardo da Vinci (National Museum in Krakow). On the left, the inscription ‘LEONARDO’, the initials of the author Maria Angela Cassol ‘MAC’ and the logo ‘RI’ acronym of the Italian Republic; on the right, ‘R’, mintmark of the Mint of Rome and the dates ‘1519-2019’, respectively the year of Leonardo’s death and the year of the coin issuance. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.

Issued date: June 2019

Enrico De Nicola, provisional Head of State, signs the act of promulgation of the Constitution of the Italian Republic on December 27, 1947; on his right, the Head of Government Alcide De Gasperi, on the left, Umberto Terracini, President of the Italian Constituent Assembly. Above, the inscription “COSTITUZIONE” and the monogram of the Italian Republic “RI”; in exergue, the inscription “CON SICURA COSCIENZA”, “R”, the mintmark of the Mint of Rome, and the dates “1948 • 2018”, respectively year of the coming into force of the Italian Constitution and year of the issue of the coin. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issued date: August 2018

The design shows an allegorical representation of Health with some symbols of the activities of the Ministry: Environment, Research, Nutrition and Medicine. On the left the logo ‘RI’, acronym of the Italian Republic; above the mintmark of the Mint of Rome ‘R’; at the base of the female figure the initials of the author Silvia Petrassi. From left to right, in semi-circle, the inscription ‘MINISTERO DELLA SALUTE’ and the dates ‘1958-2018’.

Issued date: November 2018

Façade of the Basilica of San Marco in Venice; in the exergue the dates “1617” and “2017”, respectively year of the completion of the Basilica and year of the issue of the coin, beside the logo of the Italian Republic “RI”; below the inscription “SAN MARCO”; on the right “LDS”, initials of the author Luciana De Simoni; on the top the inscription “VENEZIA”, and the mintmark of the Mint of Rome “R”. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issued date: June 2017

Bust of the Roman historian Titus Livius, taken from a work by Lorenzo Larese Moretti; on the left the logo of the Italian Republic “RI”, and “C.M.” initials of the author Claudia Momoni; on the right “17” and “2017”, respectively year of the death of Livius and year of the issue of the coin, and the mintmark of the Mint of Rome “R”; around circle of dots and the inscription “TITO • LIVIO”. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issued date: November 2017

Head of the David by Donatello (detail of the bronze sculpture kept in Florence, National Museum of Bargello): on the left is the logo of the Italian Republic “RI”; below, on two lines , is written “1466” and “2016” and on the right, “C.M.”, the initials of the author Claudia Momoni; below “DONATELLO”.

Issued date: April 2016

Theatre masks representing two characters of the New Comedy, the young woman and the slave, from a mosaic of the II century A.D. (Rome, Capitoline Museums); around construction plan of a Roman theatre and the logo of the Italian Republic “RI”; on the left side “R” and on the right side “LDS”, initials of the author Luciana De Simoni; below “184 a. C.”, “2016” and “PLAUTO”. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issued date: May 2016

Common issue

Twelve stars that morph into human figures are embracing the birth of a new Europe. The design shows the EU flag as a symbol that unites people and cultures with shared visions and ideals for a better common future.

Issued date: November 2015

The design shows Dante with an open book in his left hand and the Purgatory mountain at the back: detail from the illustration of the Divine Comedy painted by Domenico di Michelino (1417-1491) in the Dome of S. Maria del Fiore in Florence; in the centre, the monogram of the Italian Republic “RI”; at the right the inscription “R”, identifying the Mint of Rome; below the inscription “SP”, initials of Silvia Petrassi and the dates “1265 2015”, i.e. the year of the anniversary and that of the coin’s issue respectively; arch shaped, the inscription “DANTE ALIGHIERI”. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issued date: June 2015

The designs depicts a composition symbolising the fertility of Earth: on a semicircle indicating the terrestrial sphere, a seed fed by the water waits to sprout; above the Earth, a vine, an olive twig and an ear grow from a tree trunk; around, the inscription “NUTRIRE IL PIANETA”; on the left the initials of the designer Maria Grazia Urbani, “MGU”; on the right, the monogram of Italian Republic “RI” and “R”, identifying the Mint of Rome; in the middle, logo of the EXPO MILANO 2015. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issued date: April 2015

The design shows a reinterpretation of the sculpture "Pattuglia di Carabinieri nella tormenta" made in 1973 by Antonio Berti; on the right, superimposed letters of the Italian Republic monogram “RI” / 2014; on the left, 1814; up, superimposed letters R (monogram of the Mint of Rome); in exergue, LDS (monogram of the Author Luciana De Simoni) / CARABINIERI.

Issued date: March 2014

The design shows the head of Galileo Galilei from the painting of Justus Sustermans, 1636 (Florence, Galleria degli Uffizi); around, upside, GALILEO GALILEI; on the right, superimposed letters R (monogram of the Mint of Rome)/astronomic telescope/ C.M. (monogram of the Author Claudia Momoni); on the left, superimposed letters of the Italian Republic monogram “RI”; in exergue 1564-2014.

Issued date: November 2014

Head of Giovanni Boccaccio in three quarter view facing right, drawn from the fresco by Andrea del Castagno, around 1450 ca. (Florence, Galleria degli Uffizi); around, on the bottom, BOCCACCIO 1313 2013; on the right, superimposed letters R (monogram of the Mint of Rome)/ RI (monogram of Italian Republic) / m (monogram of the Author Mauri).

Issued date: July 2013

The design shows the bust of Giuseppe VERDI in three quarter view facing left. On the left, are the superimposed letters of the Italian Republic monogram ‘RI’/1813 and on the right, R (monogram of the Mint of Rome)/2013; in exergue, MCC (monogram of the Author Maria Carmela COLANERI)/G. VERDI.

Issued date: March 2013

Common issue

The Euro-sign in the centre of the coin shows that the Euro has become an element of particular importance in Europe as well all over the world as the Euro evolved to a global player in the international monetary system in the last 10 years. The design elements around the Euro-symbol on the coin express the importance of the Euro to the people, to the financial world (ECB tower), to trading (ships), to industry (factories), to the energy sector and research and development (wind power stations). The initials AH of the artist appear under the image of the ECB tower. The name(s) of the issuing country in the national language(s) appear(s) at the top, while the indication 2002-2012 appears at the bottom.

Issued date: March 2012

In the foreground is a portrait of the poet from Romagna, Giovanni Pascoli, a representative figure of the Italian literature of the late 19th century. On the right we see the year of issue “2012” and the monogram of the Italian Republic “RI”. On the left is the year of the death “1912”; the mintmark “R” and the initials of the author Maria Carmela Colaneri ”MCC”. At the bottom, we see the arch-shaped inscription “G. PASCOLI”.

Issued date: July 2012

The inner part of the coin shows, at the centre, three Italian flags in the wind, representing the three past 50th anniversaries - 1911, 1961 and 2011. This illustrates a perfect link between generations and is the logo of the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy.

Issued date: March 2011

The coin commemorates the 200th anniversary of the birth of Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour (1810-1861), a key figure in the Italian unification and founder of the Italian Liberal Party and the political newspaper Il Risorgimento. It features Cavour's portrait executed by Francesco Hayez in 1864.

Issued date: December 2010

Common issue

The centre of the coin shows a stylised human figure whose left arm is prolonged by the euro symbol. The initials ΓΣ of the artist appear below the euro symbol. The name(s) of the issuing country in the national language(s) appear(s) at the top, while the indication 1999-2009 and the acronym EMU translated into the national language(s) appear at the bottom.

Issued date: March 2009

The coin features a hand with the fingers passing over a book's pages, symbolising braille, the reading and writing system invented by Louis Braille for blind and visually impaired people.

Issued date: December 2009

The coin depicts a man and a woman along with an olive branch, an ear of corn, a cogwheel and a length of barbed wire, representing the right to peace, food, work and freedom respectively, along with the links of a chain broken forming the figure ‘60o’. In the centre of the coin are the initials of the issuing country ‘RI’ – 'Republicca Italiana' – and at the bottom is a cartouche with the words 'Diritti Umani' – 'Human Rights.

Issued date: December 2008

Common issue

The coin shows the treaty with the signatures of the six founding countries on a background evoking the paving – designed by Michelangelo – of the Piazza del Campidoglio in Rome, where the Treaty was signed on 25 March 1957, giving birth to the modern-day European Union.

Issued date: March 2007

A skier is featured together with Turin’s landmark, the Mole Antonelliana tower, and the words ‘Giochi Invernali’ (Winter Games).

Issued date: February 2006

Europa and the bull are featured in the centre of the coin. She holds a pen and the text of the European Constitution, which was signed in Rome on 29 October 2004.

Issued date: October 2005

Three ears of grain: wheat, maize and rice, the three grains representing the world’s basic sources of nourishment, emerge from behind a globe. This commemorates the start of the World Food Programme’s fifth decade.

Issued date: December 2004