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A 2 euro commemorative coin of the Vatican City State, issued in 2025 in a circulation of 80,000 copies. Dedicated to the 550th anniversary of the birth of Michelangelo Buonarroti. The author of the design is Daniela Longo (D. Longo). Bimetallic, diameter 25.75 mm, weight 8.5 g. Minted at the IPZS in Rome.
Obverse
The national side of the coin depicts the dome of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican - an architectural symbol of Christianity and the pinnacle of Michelangelo's architectural genius. Below is a fragment of the Sistine Chapel ceiling, representing the "perfect canvas" on which Buonarroti gave free rein to his artistic creativity. The autograph signature "Michelagniolo" is placed vertically (this is how Michelangelo signed his own letters). Next to it are the years “1475” and “2025”, the name of the issuing country “CITTÀ DEL VATICANO”, the mint mark of Rome “R” and the signature of the author “D. LONGO”. The composition combines two key works of the master for the Vatican – architectural (dome) and pictorial (fresco). On the outer ring – 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 – a large denomination “2” and the inscription “EURO”, on the right – a map. On the outer ring – 12 stars of the EU. The band is with a thin groove and the inscription "2 ★", repeated six times alternately upright and inverted.
Historical context
Michelangelo Buonarroti (Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, 1475-1564) is a brilliant Italian sculptor, painter, architect and poet, one of the three titans of the High Renaissance along with Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael. He was born on March 6, 1475 in Caprese (Tuscany). He was raised in Florence, where he studied in the workshops of Ghirlandaio and the court of Lorenzo de' Medici. He created outstanding sculptures - "Pieta" (1498-1499) in St. Peter's Basilica, "David" (1501-1504) in Florence, "Moses" (1513-1515). For the Vatican, he painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel (1508-1512) and the fresco "The Last Judgment" (1536-1541). From 1546 until his death, he was the chief architect of St. Peter's Basilica, designing its dome, which remains one of the most remarkable domes in the world. He died on February 18, 1564 in Rome at the age of 88. He was buried in Florence in the church of Santa Croce.