Italy

2020

Commemorative coin

150th anniversary of the birth of Maria Montessori

Official Journal of the European Union

A portrait of Maria Montessori in a geometric composition with some of didactic elements drawn from her educational system. In the right field, ‘RI’, acronym of the Italian Republic; on the left, ‘R’ ,identifying the Mint of Rome; on the right, ‘LDS’, initials of the designer Luciana De Simoni; at the top and bottom, the dates ‘1870’ e ‘2020’, the year of birth of the Italian pedagogue and that of coin’s issue, respectively; around the portrait, the inscription ‘MARIA MONTESSORI’. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Additional information

The coin commemorating the 150th birthday of the Italian physician, reformist educator, philosopher and philanthropist Maria Montessori shows in a square, next to her portrait and the inscription "MARIA MONTESSORI", three of the teaching materials of Montessori pedagogy. She developed the principle of "Cosmic Education" and the "Earth Children's Plan" during her time in India (1939-1949). She died in 1952 in Noordwijk in the Netherlands, and Amsterdam is also the seat of the non-governmental organisation AMI (Association Montessori Internationale).

Edge lettering

Designer