Thursday, April 4, 2024

Commemorative coins - San Marino 1

When paying in Europe with cash, the chance of spending or receiving a commemorative € 2 - coin, is not that uncommon. Till 2023, about 610 (!) different € 2 coins, other than the regular ones, are in use.

Also higher denominations are minted, but those coins are never seen in circulation.
First of all because they are printed in very limited numbers, or sold at a higher price than the nominal value.

One specific set of coins drew my attention. The set consists of 12 coins, issued over 4 years (in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021). 12 coins, that sounds familiar ... indeed these 12 coins are dedicated to the 12 western zodiac signs.

In 2018, the first two coins were issued.
Each coin has a face value of € 5 and the reverse side is common to all 12 coins.

reverse side of the coins
The outer circle, shows all 12 symbols of the western zodiac.
In the second circle, we see the issuing country : "Repubblica di San Marino", and the designer's name A. Masini. The third circle shows all lunar phases, around the sun in the centre of the coin.
Behind the sun we see a compass rose, and the sun is surrounded by 3 feathers, a symbol of the San Marino Republic.

On the front side of the first coin, the Aries (It: ariete) or Ram is shown

Aries issue 2018

The second coin of 2018 depicts the Taurus (It: toro) or Bull.

Taurus issue 2018
Each coin shows the year of issuing (here 2018), the face value of 5 euro, and the name of the constellation. Also the stars are depicted, and the related symbol is repeated 10 times on the perimeter of the coin.

The set of 2018 coins have a mintage of 15000 coins (brass).
They are sold out on the official website of the San Marino postal services.

to be continued...

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