As a part of the celebrations commemorating the 700th anniversary of Dante Alighieri’s death, the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato is minting the second coin dedicated to the Supreme Poet and this literary work.
Issued today by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the coin celebrates the Divine Comedy, and this year is dedicated to Purgatorio.
The Brilliant Uncirculated coin is made of silver, with a face value of 5 euro and a circulation of 6000 pieces.
The second ‘proof version’ is in gold, with a face value of 20 euro and a circulation of 1500 pieces.
Designed by artist Claudia Momoni, on one side the coin depicts the profile of Dante Alighieri, inspired by a Sandro Botticelli work (private collection), with the inscription “REPUBBLICA ITALIANA”, closed by a star.
On the reverse is a depiction of Purgatory surrounded by the sea, the sun and stars, on the top of which a wall of fire rises in the Divine Forest. The verse “PURO E DISPOSTO A SALIRE A LE STELLE”, a verse that closes the Purgatory canticle skirts its edge. On the right is the value “5 EURO”; on the left, “R,” identifying the Rome Mint; at the bottom, the date “2022”, the year the coin was issued, and the artist's signature “MOMONI.” The presence of colour is unique to the silver version.
