Italy

2015

Commemorative coin

The 750th anniversary of the birth of Dante Alighieri (1265-2015)

Official Journal of the European Union

The design shows Dante with an open book in his left hand and the Purgatory mountain at the back: detail from the illustration of the Divine Comedy painted by Domenico di Michelino (1417-1491) in the Dome of S. Maria del Fiore in Florence; in the centre, the monogram of the Italian Republic ‘RI’; at the right the inscription ‘R’, identifying the Mint of Rome; below the inscription ‘SP’, initials of Silvia Petrassi and the dates ‘1265 2015’, i.e. the year of the anniversary and that of the coin’s issue respectively; arch shaped, the inscription ‘DANTE ALIGHIERI’. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Additional information

Durante degli Alighieri called "Dante" (1265-1321), Italian philosopher, was one of the most important poets of the European Middle Ages. With his "Divine Comedy", he overcame the Latin that had dominated until then and made Italian a literary language. The work is considered an Italian national epic. The commemorative coin designed on the occasion of the 750th anniversary of his birth shows Dante after a fresco by Domenico di Michelino created in 1465 in the cathedral of Florence, with an open book in his left hand, in front of the Mount of Purification ("Purgatorio") from the "Divine Comedy". Behind the gate guarded by an angel, the souls are atoning on seven terraces, spiralling towards the light.

Edge lettering

Designer