Since the first day of the euro in Italy, the country’s largest coin has carried Dante Alighieri in a portrait painted by Raphael. This piece is dated 2002, the first year of euro cash.

For its national sides Italy chose a masterpiece by an Italian artist for each denomination; the designs were examined by a national technical and artistic committee and then presented to the country on the RAI UNO television channel. Raphael’s portrait of Dante is kept in the Vatican Palace, in the wing of Pope Julius II. The coin design is by Maria Carmela Colaneri, whose initials M.C.C. appear to the left of the portrait next to the date, the RI monogram of the Italian Republic and the R mint mark of Rome. Twelve European stars frame the outer ring.

The edge carries the figure 2 with a star six times, alternately upright and inverted. The common side with the value and the map of Europe is by Luc Luycx, signed LL; this is the first version of the map, struck until 2007.

AU-UNC grade: the coin saw almost no circulation, with at most slight rubbing on the high points and its lustre intact. It opens a date run of Italian 2 euro coins with Dante and suits a thematic set on writers and poets.

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