2016-05-11 Wed

Most of us have a common dream – owning a Ferrari! Though it might not be a possibility in the near future, if you really love this fast and furious car, you can at least have a coin that celebrates this mean machine.

20th century Europe is the focus this year for the EUROPA star coin program. Following this theme, Italy is going to release a coin to feature one of the world’s most loved automobile company – Ferrari and its founder.

Enzo Ferrari (1898 – 1988), has given Italy a grand status in the automotive industry with his designs. Enzo loved watching racing from his childhood days with his brother and father and decided to become a race car driver. However, in 1916 both his brother and father expired breaking down young Ferrari emotionally.

He did not stop there. During World War I, he worked as a blacksmith but suffered from influenza badly in 1918. After escaping a near death condition, he applied for a job at Fiat but was never selected. His love for cars finally gifted him a job at Lancia, a small car maker who used war surplus for production.

He used to test drive the converted cars which ignited his desire to become a race car driver again. He visited Milan and met Ugo Sivocci, a test driver for Costruzioni Mecchanice Nazionali and joined him later in the 1919 Targa Florio.

They then drove Alfa Romeo who produced modified cars in the 1920 Targa Florio. He had a successful track record at the company and managed to catch the attention of Giorgio Rimini, an aide to Nicola Romeo, founder of the brand.

In 1923, he met the father of the legendary Italian World War I ace Francesco Baracca; who presented young Ferrari his son’s squadron badge, the design which became the Ferrari logo later on.

In 1929, Ferrari started his own firm, the Scuderia Ferrari, with the help of some sponsorship from businessmen. The firm created a team of race cars produced by Alfa Romeo, who took control of the enterprise in 1938. Enzo however, never liked this and broke his agreement with Alfa Romeo. As a consequence he was refrained from designing race cars under his own name for four years.

Even then, he manufactured two car models in time for the 1940 Mille Miglia. During the Second World War, Ferrari’s new factory was used for war production by Mussolini’s fascist government. The factory was bombed and Ferrari relocated to Maranello.

He decided to start making cars under his name and founded Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947. They won their first F1 Grand Prix in 1951, and the World Championship in 1952 and 1953. Since then, there was no looking back and Ferrari went on win millions of hearts with his innovative designs and fast cars.

Ferrari is now the oldest surviving and most successful Formula One team, having competed in every world championship since the 1950 Formula One season.

Even after being such a big racing star, he maintained a low profile in his personal life. Enzo died in August of 1988 at the age of 90 and was honoured by the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Automotive Hall of Fame in 2000.

The obverse features a portrait of Ferrari based on a famous photo. Other inscriptions include the Ferrari logo, ‘ENZO FERRARI’,’2016’ and ‘10 EURO’.

The reverse depicts both the EUROPA-wide motif and a national design. A stylized allegorical face is encircled by a five-pointed star. Details from the coat of arms of the Italian Republic are placed inside. A towered crown sits between two points of the star. To the left is the text ‘REPUBBLICA ITALIANA’. Other inscriptions include the logo of the Europa Star program, the name of the designer, COLANERI and the mint mark, “R”, for Mint of Rome.

Only 8000 pieces of these 10 €URO coins have been issued and are expected to be sold quickly.