Italy

2012

Commemorative coin

100th anniversary of the death of Giovanni Pascoli

Official Journal of the European Union

In the foreground, a portrait of the poet from Romagna, Giovanni PASCOLI, a representative figure of the Italian literature of the late 19th century. On the right, the year of issue ‘2012’ and the monogram of the Italian Republic ‘RI’; on the left, the year of the death ‘1912’; the mintmark ‘R’ and the initials of the author Maria Carmela Colaneri ‘MCC’. At the bottom, the arch-shaped inscription ‘G. PASCOLI’. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Additional information

Giovanni Pascoli (1855-1912) influenced the development of the modern Italian language by using many words from the numerous Italian dialects for the first time in his poetry. This brought about the greatest upheaval in Italian literature since the Middle Ages. His best-known work is the collection of poems "Myricae", published in successive editions between 1891 and 1911. The sense of the mystery of life, fear, death and melancholy are prevalent aspects in Pascoli's poetry. The coin design is based on a pencil drawing by Augusto Majani (Nasica) (1867-1959) created in 1912.

Edge lettering

Designer