Description

The Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato (IPZS) has issued (14th September) new coins in gold and silver which pay tribute to the great fourteenth-century author Dante Alighieri on the 700th anniversary of his death. The coins focus on La Divina Commedia (“The Divine Comedy”), Dante’s most well-known work, and was composed during his exile, most likely between 1308 and 1321.

Durante degli Alighieri, simply called Dante (c. 1265 – 1321), was a major Italian poet of the Late Middle Ages. His Divine Comedy, originally called Comedìa and later christened Divina by Boccaccio, is widely considered the greatest literary work composed in the Italian language and a masterpiece of world literature.

Dante has been called "the Father of the Italian language" and one of the greatest poets of world literature. In Italy, Dante is often referred to as il Sommo Poeta ("the Supreme Poet") and il Poeta.

Artist: Claudia Momoni

Obverse

Profile of Dante Alighieri, a detail inspired by a painting by Sandro Botticelli (private collection). Around, the inscription “REPUBBLICA ITALIANA” with a star at its end.

REPUBBLICA ITALIANA

Reverse

Representation of Purgatorio encircled by the colored sea, the sun and the stars and, at the end of the last terrace, a wall of fire and the Divine Forest standing out on its top; around, the inscription "Pure and willing to rise to the stars", the closing verse of the cantica of Purgatorio. The value on the right, the mintmark (R) on the left, the issue date and the engraver's name below.

Purgatorio is the second part of Dante's Divine Comedy, following the Inferno and preceding the Paradiso. The poem was written in the early 14th century. It is an allegory telling of the climb of Dante up the Mount of Purgatory, guided by the Roman poet Virgil—except for the last four cantos, at which point Beatrice takes over as Dante's guide. Allegorically, Purgatorio represents the penitent Christian life. In describing the climb Dante discusses the nature of sin, examples of vice and virtue, as well as moral issues in politics and in the Church. The poem posits the theory that all sins arise from love – either perverted love directed towards others' harm, or deficient love, or the disordered or excessive love of good things.

PURO E DISPOSTO A SALIRE A LE STELLE
5
EURO
R
2022 MOMONI

Edge
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Silver
Fineness 0.925
Weight 18 g
Diameter 32 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Italian State Mint and Polygraphic Institute (IPZS)

Related coins

Inferno

700th Anniversary of Death of Dante Alighieri

Silver, 18 g, ⌀ 32 mm
Paradiso

700th Anniversary of Death of Dante Alighieri

Silver, 18 g, ⌀ 32 mm
Inferno

700th Anniversary of Death of Dante Alighieri

Gold, 6.451 g, ⌀ 21 mm