Introduction
In 2021, Vatican City issued a two-euro commemorative coin to celebrate the 450th anniversary of Caravaggio’s birth. This famous Italian painter, born in 1571, is a major figure of the Baroque. Therefore, this piece honors his immense contribution to art and painting.
Coin description
The two euro coin features a distinctive design rich in symbolism. On the obverse, there is a reproduction of the work “Boy with a Basket of Fruit” by Caravaggio. This choice highlights the importance of his still lifes and his dramatic realism. Additionally, the portrait expresses Caravaggio’s emotional depth and mastery of chiaroscuro.
The inscription “CITTÀ DEL VATICANO” appears at the top right, highlighting the issuing country. Furthermore, the dates “1571” and “2021” are written at the bottom, indicating the year of Caravaggio’s birth and the year of commemoration. At the bottom, the inscription “CARAVAGGIO” recalls the name of the famous painter. The letter “R”, placed on the left, represents the Mint of Rome. The artist’s initials, “UP. INC.”, are on the right, indicating the designer of the design.
Additionally, the outer border of the coin features twelve stars, representing the twelve stars of the European flag. This inclusion highlights Caravaggio’s importance not only to Italy but also to the whole of Europe. Thus, all elements of the design highlight the cultural and historical significance of this piece.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Vatican City two euro coin issued in 2021 commemorating the 450th anniversary of Caravaggio’s birth features a design rich in symbolism and artistic details. The choice of the reproduction of “Boy with a Basket of Fruits” and the inscriptions reinforce the importance of this artist for European art. Therefore, this piece honors the memory of Caravaggio and recalls his inestimable influence on painting. In summary, this commemorative coin embodies the cultural heritage shared by the member countries of the European Union. As a result, it celebrates an emblematic figure of the Baroque and the history of art.
| Country of Issue: |  |
| Date of issue: | June 25, 2021 |
| Total mintage: | 78.300 |
| – Proof: | 9.300 |
| – BU: | 69.000 |
| – UNC: | 0 |
| Engraver: | Uliana Pernazza and Chiara Principe |
| The edge: |  |
| Rarity: |   |
| Official Journal: | 2021/C 480/08 |
| My collection: | Je n'ai pas cette pièce (0) Please login to bookmarkClose |
Do you want to know the technical specifications of this coin? Feel free to visit the page dedicated to the specifications of a 2-euro coin.
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