Italy 2 Euros, 2012

2 Euros from Italy. Issued in 2012. 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 features a portrait of Giovanni Pascoli, a poet from the Romagna region who is a prominent representative of late 19th century Italian literature. The portrait is flanked by the poet’s year of death “1912”, the mintmark “R” and the letters “M.C.C.”, the initials of the designer Maria Carmela Colaneri, on the left and by the year of issue “2012”’ immediately above the monogram of the Italian Republic “RI” on the right. The inscription “G. PASCOLI” forms an arch along the bottom edge of the coin’s inner part below the portrait. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.

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