Vatican 2 Euro 2004 — 75th Anniversary of the Vatican City State
This commemorative 2 euro coin was issued in December 2004 by the Vatican Philatelic and Numismatic Office and struck at the Italian State Mint in Rome (IPZS). The mintage was 100,000 pieces.
The obverse features a schematic depiction of the Vatican wall perimeter with St. Peter's Basilica in the foreground, along with the inscriptions "75° ANNO DELLO STATO" and "1929–2004", the designer's name "VEROI", and the engraver's initials "L.D.S. INC.". The outer ring is adorned with the twelve stars of the European Union and the inscription "CITTÀ DEL VATICANO".
The reverse carries the standard "2 EURO" design with a map of Europe, common to all eurozone commemorative coins of that period.
Vatican City State was established on 11 February 1929 following the signing of the Lateran Treaty between the Holy See and the Kingdom of Italy. The treaty resolved the long-standing "Roman Question" and secured Vatican's status as a sovereign state. The 2004 coin ranks among the most sought-after in the Vatican commemorative euro series: its limited mintage and distribution system — closed to the general public — make it a standout piece in any collection of European commemorative coins.