New national side of euro coins intended for circulation

2013/C 102/03

National side of the new commemorative 2-euro coin intended for circulation and issued by Italy

Euro coins intended for circulation have legal tender status throughout the euro area. For the purpose of informing the public and all parties who handle the coins, the Commission publishes a description of the designs of all new coins (1). In accordance with the Council conclusions of 10 February 2009 (2), euro-area Member States and countries that have concluded a monetary agreement with the Community providing for the issuing of euro coins are allowed to issue commemorative euro coins intended for circulation, provided that certain conditions are met, particularly that only the 2-euro denomination is used. These coins have the same technical characteristics as other 2-euro coins, but their national face features a commemorative design that is highly symbolic in national or European terms.

Issuing country: Italy

Subject of commemoration: 100th anniversary of the death of Giovanni PASCOLI

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

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

Number of coins to be issued: 15 million

Date of issue: April 2012

(1)  See OJ C 373, 28.12.2001, p. 1, for the national faces of all the coins issued in 2002.

(2)  See the conclusions of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council of 10 February 2009 and the Commission Recommendation of 19 December 2008 on common guidelines for the national sides and the issuance of euro coins intended for circulation (OJ L 9, 14.1.2009, p. 52).