New 2 Euro Bimetallic Coin Commemorates St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice

Celebrating the 400th Anniversary of the completion of  St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice

By Instituto Poligrafico & Zecca Dello Stato (IPZS) ……
The most famous and impressive monument in Venice is St. Mark’s Basilica , one of the finest examples of Byzantine architecture and a real symbol of the greatness of the “Serenissima” or the Most Serene, as the Republic of Venice was better known.

The construction of the present Basilica started in 1063 in the place where a first chapel had already been built in the ninth century to house and honor the earthly remains of St. Mark transferred to Venice from Alexandria.

The obverse features the façade of St. Mark ’s Basilica in Venice. In the exergue are the dual dates “1617” and “2017” (the year of completion of the Basilica and that of the coin’s issue, respectively). The two dates flank the monogram of the Italian Republic “RI”. Below is the inscription “SAN MARCO”; on the right are the initials “LDS”, which represent the designer Luciana De Simoni. Above is the inscription “VENEZIA” and the letter “R” identifying the Mint of Rome; around the basilica are the 12 stars of the European Union.

The reverse features the common reverse of all eurozone coinage. To the right are six horizontal line segments containing stars at each end. Individualized representations of the 12 original Eurozone states divide the stripes. A large numeral “2” is centered on the left. To the right is the inscription EURO, all italicized. Underneath “EURO” is a representation of the continent of Europe. Designed by Luc Luycx, his initials “LL” appear below the O on the outer nickel-brass outer ring. The design is encircled by a raised rim.

On the fine milled edge is a numeral “2” and a star, repeated six times, alternately upright and inverted.

Specifications