Vatican City 2 Euros - Franciscus, 2023

2 Euros - Franciscus from Vatican City. Issued in 2023. Struck in Bimetallic: nickel brass clad nickel centre in copper-nickel ring (Core: 75% Cu, 20% Zn, 5% Ni Ring: 75% Cu, 25% Ni). Measures 25.75 mm and weighs 8.5 g.

Obverse

The design features Manzoni’s portrait, a pen and the beginning of his masterpiece, ‘I Promessi Sposi’. At the top, from left to right, in semi-circle, is the inscription ‘CITTÀ DEL VATICANO’. At the bottom is the inscription ‘Alessandro Manzoni’ and underneath it the dates ‘1873◦2023’. At the left is the mintmark ‘R’. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Reverse

A geographical map of Western Europe spans the outer ring and inner core on the right side of the coin. The inscription 2 EURO is superimposed over the map of Europe, with the numeral “2” located in an open field representing the eastern Atlantic Ocean. 12 stars are located on the right side of the outer ring, with six stars atop the map of Europe and six stars below it; six vertical stripes cut across the inner core of the coin, visually connecting the upper and lower star segments.

Edge

The sequence "2 ★" repeated six times alternately upright and inverted