Depicts Alessandro Manzoni's portrait, a pen, and the opening lines of his masterpiece, 'I Promessi Sposi'. Positioned in a semi-circle at the top is the inscription 'CITTÀ DEL VATICANO' from left to right. The bottom part of the coin bears the inscription 'Alessandro Manzoni' with the corresponding dates '1873◦2023' beneath it. On the left side, you'll find the mintmark 'R', while the name of the engraver is displayed on the right. The outer ring of the coin showcases the 12 stars representing the European flag.

Engraver: Gabriella Titotto

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