Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 50 Euro Cent 2008-2023, KM# 249, Italy
  • 50 Euro Cent 2008-2023, KM# 249, Italy
Description

On 7 June 2005, the European Council decided that the common side of the €0.10 to €2 coins should be brought up to date to reflect the enlargement of the EU in 2004. The €0.01, €0.02 and €0.05 coins show Europe in relation to the rest of the world, therefore they remained unchanged. In 2007, the new design was introduced. The design still retains all elements of the original designs but the map of the fifteen states is replaced by one showing the whole of Europe as a continent, without borders, to stress unity.

Obverse

The equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, resettled by Michelangelo on the Piazza del Campidoglio, which has a rosaceous paving, surrounded by the 12 stars of the European Union; on the upper right the overlapping letters 'R' and 'I'; on the upper left the letter 'R'; on the bottom centre date, on the bottom right the author's initial 'm'.

The existing design of the Piazza del Campidoglio and the surrounding palazzi was created by Renaissance artist and architect Michelangelo Buonarroti in 1536–1546. At the height of his fame, he was commissioned by the Farnese Pope Paul III.

The equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius is an ancient Roman statue in the Campidoglio, Rome, Italy. It is made of bronze and stands 4.24 m tall. The original is on display in the Capitoline Museums, with the one now standing in the open air of the Piazza del Campidoglio being a replica made in 1981 when the original was taken down for restoration.

Marcus Aurelius (121–180 AD) was Emperor of Rome from 161 to 180. He ruled with Lucius Verus as co-emperor from 161 until Verus' death in 169. Marcus Aurelius was the last of the so-called Five Good Emperors. He was a practitioner of Stoicism, and his untitled writing, commonly known as Meditations, is a significant source of the modern understanding of ancient Stoic philosophy, and is considered by many commentators to be one of the greatest works of philosophy.

Engraver: Roberto Mauri

R RI
m
2012

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 “50.”

50
LL
EURO
CENT

Edge

50 Euro Cent

2nd map
KM# 249 Schön# 291
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Characteristics
Material Nordic Gold
Weight 7.8 g
Diameter 24.25 mm
Thickness 2.38 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Italian State Mint and Polygraphic Institute (IPZS)

Related coins

1st map

Nordic Gold, 7.8 g, ⌀ 24.25 mm