The design shows the conjoined heads of the martyrs Saint Peter with his symbol of pair of overlapping keys to the left and Paul the Apostle behind him with his symbol of sword to the right. At the top, in semi-circle is the inscription VATICAN CITY. At the bottom, in semi-circle is the inscription 1950 SINCE DEATH OF SAINT PETER AND PAUL THE APOSTLE.

An image of crossed keys to represent the metaphorical keys of the office of Saint Peter, the keys of the kingdom of Heaven, that, according to Roman Catholic teaching, Jesus promised to Saint Peter, empowering him to take binding actions.

A sword is the common attributes of Paul the Apostle. The sword is a reminder of the means of his martyrdom – he was beheaded in Rome in 67 AD.

Artist: Gabriella Titoto
Engraver: Claudia Momoni

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.”

The sequence "2 ★" repeated six times alternately upright and inverted.