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 European Union 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: The 250th anniversary of the foundation of the Guardia di Finanza Corps

Description of the design: 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 depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Estimated number of coins to be issued: 3 000 000

Date of issue: January 2024

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(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).