Description

This coin commemorates the 150th Anniversary of Guglielmo Marconi's birth and the centenary of the first radio broadcast in Italy.

Guglielmo Giovanni Maria Marconi (1874–1937) was an Italian inventor and electrical engineer, known for his creation of a practical radio wave-based wireless telegraph system. This led to Marconi being credited as the inventor of radio, and he shared the 1909 Nobel Prize in Physics with Karl Ferdinand Braun "in recognition of their contributions to the development of wireless telegraphy".

Incidentally, Marconi was also involved in the first radio station in his home country of Italy, where it took until 6 October 1924 before the opera singer Ines Viviani Donarelli welcomed listeners and announced a live broadcast of a Haydn concert in which she performed herself.

Designer: Uliana Pernazza

Obverse

Depicts a youthful portrayal of Guglielmo Marconi seated beside a radio transmitter, symbolizing his pioneering work in developing wireless communication. Below him are sound waves and Marconi's handwritten signature. The dates "1874-2024" mark his birth and the coin's issuance year, respectively. The top arch bears the inscription "Italian Republic," while the designer's name, "U.PERNAZZA," is on the left.

U.PERNAZZA REPUBBLICA ITALIANA
Guglielmo Marconi
1874-2024

Reverse

In the forefront, there's a stylized graphic representation featuring elements symbolizing radio broadcasts: a microphone, headphones, and sound waves, with the globe in the background. Encircling the design is the inscription "RADIO RAI 100th • FROM MARCONI TO DIGITAL," framed by the colors of the Italian flag. Below, on the left, are the acronyms "URI•EIAR•RAI," denoting the Italian Radio and Television entities throughout the years, along with "1924•2024," marking the date of the first Italian radio broadcast and the year of the coin's release. At the bottom, the coin's value is indicated as "FIVE EURO," accompanied by "R," representing the Mint of Rome.

RADIO RAI 100 • DA MARCONI A DIGITALE
URI•EIAR•RAI 1924•2024
R
CINQUE EURO

Edge
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Silver
Fineness 0.925
Weight 18 g
Diameter 32 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Italian State Mint and Polygraphic Institute (IPZS)

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