Description

The Italian State Mint and Polygraphic Institute (IPZS) have launched (19th September 2017) their first bi-metallic €5 base-metal coin, which remembers the 50th anniversary of the death of one of Italy’s more memorable and irreverent comedians, known nationally by the stage name “Totò.” This is the first €5 bi-metallic coin which has been issued in Italy. However, it was not the first for the IPZS, as they already struck €5 bi-metallic coins for the Republic of San Marino.

Antonio Griffo Focas Flavio Angelo Ducas Comneno Porfirogenito Gagliardi De Curtis di Bisanzio (1898–1967), best known by his stage name Totò, and nicknamed il Principe della risata ("the Prince of laughter"), is commonly referred to as the most popular Italian comedian of all time. He was a film and stage actor as well as a writer, singer and songwriter. He is best known for his funny and sometimes cynical character as a comedian in theatre and then in many succesful films shooted between the forties and the sixties, all regularly still on TV, but he also worked with many iconic italian film directors in dramatic/poetic roles.

While he first gained his popularity as a comic actor, his dramatic roles, poetry, and songs are all deemed to be outstanding; his style and a number of his recurring jokes and gestures have become universally known memes in Italy.

Engraver: Uliana Pernazza