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The first commemorative 2 euro coin of the Vatican City State, issued in 2004 in a circulation of 85,000 copies. Dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Vatican City State. Bimetallic, diameter 25.75 mm, weight 8.5 g. Minted at the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato (IPZS) in Rome. The author of the design is Veronica Paolacci.
Overse
The center of the coin depicts the plan of the Vatican City State in outline with St. Peter's Basilica in the center, surrounded by the walls of the city-state. This image symbolizes the territorial independence of the Holy See, restored by the Lateran Treaty of 1929. Around the image of the upper part of the coin is the inscription "CITTÀ DEL VATICANO" (Vatican City) in Italian. Below the plan are the dates "1929–2004" and the inscription "75° ANNO DELLO STATO" (75th year of the state). On the left is the mint mark "R" (Rome), on the right are the initials of the author. On the outer ring are the 12 stars of the European Union.
Reverse
The reverse is the common side of the 2 euro coins of the first type (until 2007), designed by Luc Luix. On the left is the denomination "2" and the inscription "EURO", on the right is a map of the European Union with the borders of the member states as of 1999. On the outer ring are the 12 stars of the EU. On the band is a groove with the inscription "2 ★ ★", repeated six times alternately in the forward and inverted positions.
Historical context
Vatican City (Città del Vaticano) was founded on 11 February 1929 by the Lateran Treaty signed between the Holy See (represented by Cardinal Pietro Gasparri) and the Kingdom of Italy (represented by Prime Minister Benito Mussolini). The Treaty resolved the "Roman Question", which had been ongoing since 1870 after the capture of Rome by the troops of the Kingdom of Italy and the deprivation of the Pope of secular power. According to the Lateran Treaty, a sovereign state was created - Vatican City with an area of 0.44 km² - the smallest independent state in the world. Pope Pius XI became the first ruler of the new state. The Vatican is not only a geographically small state, but also the spiritual center of over 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide, making it a unique theocratic monarchy in the modern world.