2 Euro Commemorative coins Vatican City 2018

European Year of Cultural Heritage

The Obverse depicts the sculptural work known as the "Laocoön Group", representing the trojan priest Laocoön and his sons as they wrestle with snakes; the sculpture is conserved in the Vatican Museums. The image is surrounded by the circular inscription "ANNO EUROPEO DEL PATRIMONIO CULTURALE". At the top right, between the image and the inscription, is the minting year with the mintmark "R" below it. In the centre of the lower part is the inscription on two lines "Città del VATICANO" with the engraver's initials "C.M. INC." immediately above it on the left, while on the right, arched and near the edge, is the author's signature "D. LONGO". On the outside part are placed 12 five-pointed stars, the symbol of the European Union. The coin's Reverse is the new common side of Euro coins, with the face value "2" on the left and the European continent 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).

50 years since the death of Padre Pio

The Obverse depicts the effigy of Padre Pio in the centre of the coin. In the upper part, the image is surrounded by the circular inscription "CITTA' DEL VATICANO", while in the lower part is the cursive inscription "Padre Pio". On the left are the year "1968" and, further down, the author's signature "P.DANIELE". On the right are the minting year "2018" and, at the level of the author's signature, the engraver's initials "VDS INC.", with the mintmark "R" immediately below. On the outside part are placed 12 five-pointed stars, the symbol of the European Union. The coin's Reverse is the new common side of Euro coins, with the face value "2" on the left and the European continent 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).