Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 1 Euro 2002-2005, KM# 347, Vatican City, Pope John Paul II
  • 1 Euro 2002-2005, KM# 347, Vatican City, Pope John Paul II
Description

Pope Saint John Paul II, born Karol Józef Wojtyła (1920–2005), served as Pope from 1978 to 2005. He was one of the most travelled world leaders in history, visiting 129 countries during his pontificate. As part of his special emphasis on the universal call to holiness, he beatified 1,340 people and canonised 483 saints, more than the combined tally of his predecessors during the preceding five centuries. He was the second longest-serving pope in modern history after Pope Pius IX, who served for nearly 32 years.

Obverse

The portrait in left profile of His Holiness John Paul II is encircled by the inscription "Vatican City", date, mint mark (R, Rome) and the twelve stars of Europe.

Artist: Guido Veroi (GV)
Engraver: Uliana Pernazza (UP INC.)

GV ⠂UP INC.
R
CITTA' DEL VATICANO 2004

Reverse

A geographical map of Western Europe spans the outer ring and inner core on the right side of the coin. The inscription 1 EURO is superimposed over the map of Europe, with the numeral “1” 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.”

1 EURO
LL

Edge

1 Euro

KM# 347 Schön# 349
Characteristics
Material Bi-Metallic
Ring Nickel Brass
Center Cupronickel
Weight 7.5 g
Diameter 23.25 mm
Thickness 2.33 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Italian State Mint and Polygraphic Institute (IPZS)

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