Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 2 Euro 2017, KM# 149, Slovakia, 550th Anniversary of the Academia Istropolitana
  • 2 Euro 2017, KM# 149, Slovakia, 550th Anniversary of the Academia Istropolitana
Description

The coin is dedicated to 550th anniversary of the establishment of Academia Istropolitana. The Universitas Istropolitana in Bratislava was arguably the third university to be found in the Kingdom of Hungary and the first university to be founded in the territory of present-day Slovakia. Despite its brief existence (1465–1491), it features prominently in Slovak historiography. The word "Istropolitana" is taken from the ancient Greek name for Bratislava, Istropolis, which means "Danube City".

Obverse

Depicts the figure of a teacher and two students positioned before the facade of the building of the former Universitas Istropolitana in Bratislava. In the upper left of the design is a medallion of King Matthias Corvinus, the founder of the university. Above the medallion is the inscription ‘1467’, the year in which the university was opened. The country of issuance ‘SLOVAKIA’ appears at the base of the inner circle, above the year of issuance ‘2017’. Along the left edge of the inner circle is the inscription ‘UNIVERSITY’, and along the right edge ‘ISTROPOLITANA’. In the lower left of the design is the mint mark of the Kremnica Mint (Mincovňa Kremnica), consisting of the initials ‘MK’ placed between two dies. Below the mint mark are the stylised letters ‘MP’, the initials of the designer. The coin’s outer ring bears the twelve stars of the European Union.

Designer: Maria Poldaufová

UNIVERZITA 1467 ISTROPOLITANA
MK
MP
SLOVENSKO
2017

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

Slovak Republic in Slovak with two stars and linden leaf between

★ SLOVENSKÁ REPUBLIKA ★

2 Euro

550th Anniversary of the Academia Istropolitana

KM# 149
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (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
Kremnica Mint (MK)

Related coins

Bi-Metallic, 8.5 g, ⌀ 25.75 mm
20th Anniversary of the Start of the Velvet Revolution

Bi-Metallic, 8.5 g, ⌀ 25.75 mm