Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 10 Euro Cent 2008-2013, KM# 385, Vatican City, Pope Benedict XVI
  • 10 Euro Cent 2008-2013, KM# 385, Vatican City, Pope Benedict XVI
Description

Pope Benedict XVI, born Joseph Alois Ratzinger (1927-2022), led the Catholic Church and the Vatican City State from April 19, 2005, to February 28, 2013. Known for advocating traditional Catholic values, promoting Latin and the Tridentine Mass, and countering secularization, his papacy also faced criticism for handling sexual abuse cases and opposing condom use in HIV-prevalent areas. Benedict resigned in 2013 due to advanced age, the first pope to do so in nearly 600 years, and was succeeded by Pope Francis. He spent his retirement in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in Vatican City, holding the unique title of "Pope Emeritus."

Obverse

The three-quarters portrait of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI is encircled by the inscription "CITTA' DEL VATICANO" (Vatican City), date, mint mark (R, Rome) and the twelve stars of Europe.

Artist: Daniela Longo (D.L.)
Engraver: Maria Angela Cassol (M.C.C. INC.)

R
D. L. M.C.C. INC.
CITTA' DEL VATICANO • 2010

Reverse

A geographical map of Western Europe spans the outer ring and inner core on the left side of the coin.

12 stars are located on the left 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 “0” in “10.”

10
LL
EURO
CENT

Edge

10 Euro Cent

2nd map
KM# 385 Schön# 396
Characteristics
Material Nordic Gold
Weight 4.1 g
Diameter 19.75 mm
Thickness 1.93 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Italian State Mint and Polygraphic Institute (IPZS)

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Nordic Gold, 4.1 g, ⌀ 19.75 mm
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Nordic Gold, 4.1 g, ⌀ 19.75 mm
1st map

Nordic Gold, 4.1 g, ⌀ 19.75 mm