2 Euro Commemorative coins Italy 2009

200th birthday of Louis Braille

The Obverse depicts a hand turning the pages of a book, with the index finger pointing towards the vertical inscription "LOUIS BRAILLE 1809 2009". Below the book is the inscription "LOUIS BRAILLE" in the alphabet that he invented, further below the author's signature. Above the hand are two birds in flight, symbolising free and universal knowledge, followed by the monogram of the Italian Republic. Immediately below the hand is the mintmark "R". On the outside part are placed 12 five-pointed stars, representing the European Union. The coin's Reverse is the new common side of Euro coins, with the face value "2" on the left and the European continent on the right, overlapped by the inscription "EURO". Six vertical lines with a star at each end are placed behind the Europe's image.
Edge: finely milled, with six "2" in incuse (repeated alternately from bottom to top and vice versa) and twelve five-pointed stars.
Diameter: 25,75 mm
Thickness: 2,20 mm
Weight: 8,5 g
Composition: bimetallic coin (outer part: copper-nickel, inner part: nickel-brass).

Ten years of Economic and Monetary Union

On the Obverse, the centre of the coin features a design representing a stylised figure merging with the Euro symbol. The subject was chosen through an online competition in which citizens of the European Union participated. At the top is the arched inscription "REPUBBLICA ITALIANA", at the bottom, also in an arc, the inscription "UEM 1999-2009". Above the inscription, towards the right, the author's signature. To the right of the design is the mintmark "R". On the outside part are placed 12 five-pointed stars, representing the European Union. The coin's Reverse is the new common side of Euro coins, with the face value "2" on the left and the European continent on the right, overlapped by the inscription "EURO". Six vertical lines with a star at each end are placed behind the Europe's image.
Edge: finely milled, with six "2" in incuse (repeated alternately from bottom to top and vice versa) and twelve five-pointed stars.
Diameter: 25,75 mm
Thickness: 2,20 mm
Weight: 8,5 g
Composition: bimetallic coin (outer part: copper-nickel, inner part: nickel-brass).