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A 2 euro commemorative coin of the Vatican City State, issued in 2017 in a circulation of 80,000 copies. Dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Marian apparitions in Fatima. The author of the design is Orietta Rossi (O. Rossi). Bimetallic, diameter 25.75 mm, weight 8.5 g. Minted at the IPZS in Rome.
Overse
The center of the coin depicts three young shepherds to whom, according to legend, the Virgin Mary appeared - ten-year-old Lucia dos Santos and her cousins Francisco Marta (9 years old) and Jacinta Marta (7 years old). In the background is the silhouette of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima. At the top, in a semicircle, is the inscription "CITTÀ DEL VATICANO", directly below it is the year "1917", below, from left to right, is the inscription "FATIMA 2017". On the left is the mint mark "R", below is the name of the author "O.ROSSI". 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 second type, designed by Luc Luix. It depicts a map of Europe as a single continent without internal borders. On the left is a large denomination "2" and the inscription "EURO", on the right is a map. On the outer ring are the 12 stars of the EU. The band is finely fluted and has the inscription "2 ★", repeated six times, alternately upright and inverted.
Historical context
The Fatima apparitions are a series of Marian apparitions that, according to Catholic tradition, occurred from May 13 to October 13, 1917, near the settlement of Alustrel, near the Portuguese town of Fatima. The witnesses were three shepherds - Lucia dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Martu. According to legend, the Virgin Mary appeared to them on the 13th of each month, conveying three prophecies (known as the "mysteries of Fatima") and calls for prayer and conversion. The last apparition on October 13, 1917, was accompanied by the so-called "Miracle of the Sun", which was witnessed by about 70 thousand people. In 1930, the Catholic Church officially recognized the supernatural nature of the phenomena. On May 12-13, 2017, Pope Francis made a pastoral visit to Fatima, during which he canonized Francis and Jacinta Marta.