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The 2 euro commemorative coin of Spain, issued on January 28, 2011 with a circulation of 8,000,000 copies, is the second in the series "Patrimonio de la Humanidad de la UNESCO", started in 2010. The series is planned until 2050, the coins are issued in the order of inclusion of objects in the UNESCO list. It was minted at the Madrid Mint (FNMT-RCM). Bimetallic (copper-nickel ring, three-layer core - nickel brass/nickel/nickel brass), diameter 25.75 mm, weight 8.5 g.
Obverse
The national side depicts the Courtyard of the Lions (Patio de los Leones) - the central courtyard of the Palace of the Lions in the Alhambra complex in Granada. The composition shows a rectangular courtyard with arcades on slender columns, in the center of which is the famous marble fountain with twelve lions holding a bowl. Below, in an arc, the inscription "ESPAÑA" (Spain) and the year "2011". On the right is the Madrid mint mark - the letter "M" crowned with a crown. On the outer ring are the 12 five-pointed stars of the European Union.
Reverse
The reverse is the common side of the 2 euro coins of the second type, designed by Luc Luix (Royal Belgian Mint). It depicts a map of Europe as a single continent without internal borders - a symbol of European unity. On the left is a large denomination "2" and the inscription "EURO", on the right is a map with six thin horizontal lines in the background. On the outer ring are the 12 stars of the European Union. The band is finely fluted and has the inscription "2 ★", repeated six times, alternating upright and inverted.
Historical context
The Courtyard of the Lions (Patio de los Leones) is the heart of the Palace of the Lions, located in the center of the Alhambra, a historic citadel complex of palaces, gardens, and fortresses in Granada (Andalusia, Spain). Construction was commissioned by Sultan Muhammad V of the Emirate of Granada in Al-Andalus; it began during the second period of his reign (1362-1391). Together with the Alhambra, the palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the most famous palaces in Islamic architecture and an example of the flowering of the Nasrid style in Al-Andalus. The fountain in the center of the courtyard is surrounded by 12 sculptures of lions - a strong symbol of power and justice. The Alhambra was conquered by the Catholic Monarchs of Spain in 1492.