Obverse. Photo © MA-SHOPS
  • 2 Euro 2016, KM# 547, San Marino, 400th Anniversary of Death of William Shakespeare
  • 2 Euro 2016, KM# 547, San Marino, 400th Anniversary of Death of William Shakespeare
  • 2 Euro 2016, KM# 547, San Marino, 400th Anniversary of Death of William Shakespeare, Coincard (front)
  • 2 Euro 2016, KM# 547, San Marino, 400th Anniversary of Death of William Shakespeare, Coincard (back)
Description

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) was an English poet, playwright, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet, and the "Bard of Avon". His extant works, including collaborations, consist of approximately 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and a few other verses, some of uncertain authorship. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. He then wrote mainly tragedies until about 1608, including Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth, considered some of the finest works in the English language.

Obverse

Depicts a portrait of William Shakespeare. On the right, in a semi-circle, the dates ‘1616-2016’ and the name of the issuing country ‘San Marino’. On the bottom right the initials of the artist ‘MB’. On the left, in a semi-circle, the inscription ‘William Shakespeare’. On the bottom left the mintmark ‘R’. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Engraver: Matt Bonaccorsi (MB)

William Shakespeare
1616-2016
MB
R
San Marino

Reverse

A geographical map of Western Europe spans the outer ring and inner core on the right side of the coin. The inscription 2 EURO is superimposed over the map of Europe, with the numeral “2” located in an open field representing the eastern Atlantic Ocean.

12 stars are located on the right side of the outer ring, with six stars atop the map of Europe and six stars below it; six vertical stripes cut across the inner core of the coin, visually connecting the upper and lower star segments.

Luc Luycx, a designer at the Royal Belgian Mint, designed the Euro’s common reverse; his initials, LL, are seen on the right side of the design, just under the “O” in “EURO.”

2 EURO
LL

Edge

The sequence "2 ★" repeated six times alternately upright and inverted

2 ★ 2 ★ 2 ★ 2 ★ 2 ★ 2 ★ 2 ★

2 Euro

400th Anniversary of Death of William Shakespeare

KM# 547
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Bi-Metallic
Ring -
Center -
Weight 8.5 g
Diameter 25.75 mm
Thickness 2.2 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Italian State Mint and Polygraphic Institute (IPZS)

Related coins

1st map

Bi-Metallic, 8.5 g, ⌀ 25.75 mm
Bartolomeo Borghesi

Bi-Metallic, 8.5 g, ⌀ 25.75 mm
World Year of Physics

Bi-Metallic, 8.5 g, ⌀ 25.75 mm