2 Euro Commemorative coins Vatican City 2006

500th anniversary of the Swiss Guard

The Obverse, in the centre of the coin, depicts a Swiss guard in the act of swearing allegiance to the Pope and holding a flag. At the top is the circular inscription "GUARDIA SVIZZERA PONTIFICIA" and at the bottom, also in an arc, is the inscription "CITTÀ DEL VATICANO". To the left of the image is the year "1506" and below, along the flag pole, is the name of the author "O.ROSSI". On the right we find the minting year "2006" immediately above the mintmark "R", while below the mintmark are the engraver's initials "M.C.C. INC.". On the outside part are placed 12 five-pointed stars, the symbol of the European Union. The coin's Reverse is the old common side of Euro coins, with the face value "2" on the left and the European Union (before its enlargement) on the right, overlapped by the inscription "EURO". Six vertical lines with a star at each end are placed behind the Europe's image.
Edge: finely milled, with six "2" in incuse (repeated alternately from bottom to top and vice versa) and six five-pointed stars.
Diameter: 25,75 mm
Thickness: 2,20 mm
Weight: 8,5 g
Composition: bimetallic coin (outer part: copper-nickel, inner part: nickel-brass).