2019-01-08 Tue

Belgium will be releasing a ringed-bimetallic €2 coin to honour the 450th death anniversary of the famous Belgian painter, Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Italy will be issuing a similar coin to mark the 500th death anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci. Spain will also be releasing a €2 coin depicting the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site, the old town of Avila.

The obverse side of all three coins depict the commemorative designs. A ring of 12 stars of the EU surrounds the central design. A map of the European Union is depicted on the reverse side of all three coins. The 8.5 grams €2 ringed-bimetallic coin with a copper-nickel core and copper-aluminium-nickel ring has a diameter of 25.75 millimetres.

The obverse side of Belgian coin depicts a portrait of Pieter Bruegel the Elder along with a painting on an easel. Other inscriptions include P. Bruegel, 1569, with a subtle obelisk, representing Year of Death and 2019, for Year of Issuance. The coin has a mintage limit of 155,000 pieces, and they will be circulated in January.

The obverse side of the Italian coin features a portion of the painting Dama con l’ermellino, or Lady with an Ermine, by Leonardo da Vinci. The original painting is now showcased at Czartoryski Museum in Krakow. Other inscriptions include LEONARDO, initials MAC of the designer Maria Angela Cassol, logo RI for Italian Republic; R Mint mark for Mint of Rome and year dates 1519–2019. 3 million such coins will be released in January.

The Spanish coin features the churches of the old town of Avila outside the walls of Spain. One million coins will be circulated within the first four months of 2019.

Image Courtesy: The European Commission