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2 euro commemorative coin of the Italian Republic, issued in 2026. Dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the birth of Carlo Collodi. Bimetallic, diameter 25.75 mm, weight 8.5 g. Minted at IPZS in Rome.
Obverse
The center of the coin depicts the wooden boy Pinocchio, the main character of Carlo Collodi's fairy tale, wearing a characteristic hat (conical clown's), with a long nose (which lengthens when he lies) and trousers. Around the image are the inscriptions: "CARLO COLLODI" (author's name) and the dates "1826-2026". Also on the field of the coin are the monogram "RI" (Repubblica Italiana), the mint mark "R" (Rome) and the initials of the designer. 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, alternately upright and inverted.
Historical context
Carlo Collodi (real name Carlo Lorenzini, 24 November 1826 – 26 October 1890) was an Italian writer and journalist of the era of the unification of Italy (Risorgimento). He was born in Florence. He took the pseudonym "Collodi" from the village near Piescia in Tuscany, where his mother came from. He participated in the wars for the unification of Italy (1848, 1859) as a volunteer. He worked as a journalist, editor, and theater critic in Florence. His most famous work is "Le Avventure di Pinocchio. Storia di un burattino" (The Adventures of Pinocchio. The Story of a Wooden Puppet), published initially as a serial story in the children's magazine "Giornale per i bambini" in 1881-1883, and in 1883 as a separate book. The tale of the naughty wooden puppet Geppetto, who wants to become a real boy, became one of the most popular children's books in the world, translated into over 260 languages. In 1940, Walt Disney made the famous cartoon of the same name. He died on October 26, 1890 in Florence.