Vatican City 2 Euros - Sede Vacante, 2005

2 Euros - Sede Vacante from Vatican City. Issued in 2005. Struck in Bimetallic: nickel brass clad nickel centre in copper-nickel ring. Measures 25.75 mm and weighs 8.5 g.

Obverse

The inner part of the coin shows the coat of arms of Cardinal Chamberlain, the interim leader of the Vatican City State, with the emblem of the Apostolic Chamber in the upper part of the design. The words ‘SEDE VACANTE’ form a quasi-semicircle along the upper left edge of the inner part. The year of mintage, ‘MMV’, appears in Roman numerals along the right-hand edge of the inner part. Between the coat of arms and the year of mintage is the mintmark ‘R’. The designer's initial and surname, ‘D. LONGO’, appear on the lower left-hand side along the edge of the inner part. The engraver's initials appear on the lower right-hand side of the design along the edge of the inner part: ‘MCC inc’. Twelve stars in a quasi-semicircle are shown on the upper half of the outer ring. On the lower part of the outer ring the words ‘CITTÀ DEL VATICANO’ form a semicircle. (Ciry State of Vatican)

Reverse

A map, next to the face value, shows the European continent without borders.

Edge

Finely ribbed with edge lettering: six times the sequence "2 ★ " alternately upright and inverted