Italy 5 Euros, 2017

5 Euros from Italy. Issued in 2017. Struck in Silver (.925). Measures 32 mm and weighs 18 g.

Obverse

Francesco De Sanctis, from a work by Francesco Saverio Altamura conserved at the San Martino Museum in Naples; around, the inscription “REPUBBLICA ITALIANA”; at the base of the portrait, the name of the designer “A. MASINI”; below, bay laurel leaves, symbol of wisdom.

Reverse

Allegory of Literature coming to life from an inkwell, symbol of writing, and bearing titles of some works by De Sanctis engraved on her hair; around, “FRANCESCO DE SANCTIS”; on the left, the letter “R”; on the right, “5 EURO”; below, “1817” and “2017”, the year of De Sanctis’ birth and that of the coin’s issue respectively; at the base, bay laurel leaves.

Edge

Continuous coarse milled.