Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 2 Euro 2015, KM# 204, Monaco, Albert II, 800th Anniversary of the Construction of the First Fortress on the Rock
  • 2 Euro 2015, KM# 204, Monaco, Albert II, 800th Anniversary of the Construction of the First Fortress on the Rock
Description

The Rock of Monaco (Rocher de Monaco) is a 62-metre (203 ft) tall monolith on the Mediterranean coast of the Principality of Monaco. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and the port.

The date of 10th June 1215 marks the birth of the future Principality: on that day, the Genoese Ghibellines led by Fulco del Cassello, who had long since seen the strategic importance of the Rock and was aware of the advantages of the harbor, came there to lay the first stone of the fortress, on whose foundations the Prince's Palace lies today. The Rock of Monaco was also the first conquest of the Grimaldi dynasty, the rulers of the country for more than 700 years, founded when the Guelf Francesco Grimaldi disguised himself as a Franciscan monk in order to gain entry to the city and open the gates for his soldiers. They had previously obtained from the Emperor Henry VI, the successor of Frederick Barbarossa, sovereignty over the whole country and had acquired the land necessary to carry out their project.

Obverse

Depicts a tower on the top of the rock. At the top the name of the issuing country 'MONACO' flanked by the Paris mint mark (Cornucopia) and the mint master mark (Yves Sampo: pentagon with letters AG, MP and YS). At the bottom, the inscription 'Foundation of the fortress', flanked by the years '1215' and '2015'. The outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

MONACO
1215 - FONDATION DE LA FORTERESSE - 2015

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 Euro

800th Anniversary of the Construction of the First Fortress on the Rock

KM# 204 Gadoury# MC207
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Bi-Metallic
Ring Cupronickel
Center Nickel Brass
Weight 8.5 g
Diameter 25.75 mm
Thickness 2.2 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Paris Mint (A)

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