Obverse. Photo © HISTORIA-HAMBURG.de
  • 2 Euro 2011, KM# 426, Vatican City, Pope Benedict XVI, World Youth Day, Madrid 2011
  • 2 Euro 2011, KM# 426, Vatican City, Pope Benedict XVI, World Youth Day, Madrid 2011
  • 2 Euro 2011, KM# 426, Vatican City, Pope Benedict XVI, World Youth Day, Madrid 2011, Folder
Description

World Youth Day (WYD) is an event for young people organized every three (or sometimes, two) years by the Catholic Church. World Youth Day was initiated by Pope John Paul II in 1985.

The host city of World Youth Day 2011 was Madrid, Spain. The events were scheduled to be held from August 16–21, 2011. It was the second time that Spain hosted the event.

Obverse

The inner part shows three young people and two flags, as well as the mint mark and the year mark. At the top of the inner ring, interrupted by a crown and the flags, is the inscription XXVI W.Y.D (World Youth Day). At the bottom of the inner ring is the inscription Vatican City. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring.

Artist: Orietta Rossi
Engraver: Maria Carmela Colaneri (MCC INC.)

· XXVI G.M.G.
2011 MCC INC.
R
O.ROSSI
CITA' DEL VATICANO

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 ★

Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Circulating)
Material Bi-Metallic
Ring Cupronickel
Center Nickel Brass
Weight 8.5 g
Diameter 25.75 mm
Thickness 2.25 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Italian State Mint and Polygraphic Institute (IPZS)

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