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.)

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.”