February 1, 2018 – The Constitution of the Italian Republic was enacted by the Constituent Assembly on 22th December 1947 and came into force on 1st January 1948. It is a fundamental charter that perfectly combines rights and duties. Freedom and democracy have been thus guaranteed in the country throughout the last seventy years to the advantage of social, economic and institutional development. On that occasion Italy issued two coins, a 2 euro circulation coin, and a 5 euro collector coin.
Italy’s new 2 euro circulation coin to commemorate 70 years Constitution.
2 euro coin
The obverse shows the then interim Head of State Enrico De Nicola signing the promulgation act of the Constitution of the Italian Republic on 27th December 1947; to his right, the Prime Minister Alcide De Gasperi and, to his left, Umberto Terracini, President of the Constituent Assembly. Above, the inscription “COSTITUZIONE” and the monogram “RI”, acronym of the Italian Republic; in exergue, the inscription “CON SICURA COSCIENZA” (“with clear conscience”), “R”, identifying the Mint of Rome and the dates “1948 . 2018”, i.e. the year of the entry into force of the Italian Constitution and that of the coin’s issue respectively; all around, the twelve stars of the European Union. The design is by Uliana Pernazza.
There is also a proof issue with a maximum mintage of 15,000 pieces.
Italy / 5 euro / .925 silver / 18g / 32mm / Design: Luciana De Simoni / Mintage: 5,000.
5 euro coin
On the obverse the allegory of triumphant Italy holds the Italian flag with green and red enamels, from a fresco by Cesare Maccari (Maccari Hall, Palazzo Madama, Rome); around, the inscription “REPUBBLICA ITALIANA”; lower right, the name of the designer “L. DE SIMONI”.
The reverse is set in a frame, dominated by the inscription “SEI LIBERA SII GRANDE” (“you are free, be great”) drawn from the fresco by Cesare Maccari reproducing the allegory of triumphant Italy (Maccari Hall, Palazzo Madama, Rome), an allegorical composition made of a circle and a square, symbols of Perfection and Knowledge. The composition is completed by the star of the Italian Republic and a detail from the fresco by Cesare Maccari “Humanities and the arts” (Maccari Hall, Palazzo Madama, Rome). In the middle, the value “5 euro”, the inscription ”COSTITUZIONE ITALIANA” and, on the pages of a book, the dates “1948 2018”, i.e. the year of the entry into force of the Italian Constitution and that of the coin’s issue respectively; below, in the middle, “R” identifying the Mint of Rome.
For more information on Italian collector coins visit the website of the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato.
The Italian Senate provides an official translation of the Constitution.
You can have some impression of Italy’s new cabinet of 1948 in this short video.