Description

The Italian Air Force (Italian: Aeronautica Militare; AM, lit. 'military aeronautics') is the air force of the Italian Republic. The Italian Air Force was founded as an independent service arm on 28 March 1923 by King Victor Emmanuel III as the Regia Aeronautica ("Royal Air Force"). After World War II, when Italy became a republic following a referendum, the Regia Aeronautica was given its current name. Since its formation, the service has held a prominent role in modern Italian military history.

Issue date: March 21, 2023

Obverse

Depicts the logo designed by the Italian Air Force staff for the centennial celebrations. The design depicts a large stylized numeral “100” crossed by a runway with an antique aircraft, a pioneer propeller biplane, at the lower left and a modern fighter aircraft, presumably an F35, at the upper right. A semicircular line on the right edge of the image links the two elements with the dates 1923 and 2023.

The subject of the commemorative issue, AERONAUTICA MILITARE, is visible at the bottom, while the monogram of the Italian Republic (RI) stands out at the top; the mintmark R of the Mint of Rome on the left and the initials VdS of the engraver. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring.

Engraver: Valerio De Seta

RI
R 100
VdS
2023
1923
AERONAUTICA MILITARE

Reverse

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.”

2 EURO
LL

Edge

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

2 ★ 2 ★ 2 ★ 2 ★ 2 ★ 2 ★

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Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Circulating)
Material Bi-Metallic
Ring Cupronickel
Center Nickel Brass
Weight 8.5 g
Diameter 25.75 mm
Thickness 2.2 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Italian State Mint and Polygraphic Institute (IPZS)

Related coins

100th Anniversary of Italian Air Force

Silver, 18 g, ⌀ 32 mm