The Italian 2 euro standard circulation coin features a portrait of the renowned Renaissance polymath Dante Alighieri. Designed by Maria Angela Cassol, the image is based on a detail from the painting by Raphael housed in the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican. Dante is celebrated as the father of the Italian language, and his inclusion on the national side of the currency serves as a profound tribute to Italy’s rich cultural heritage and its foundational contribution to European literature. The reverse side displays the standard European map and denomination common to all euro zone members. This coin was issued in 2011 with a total mintage of 13,954,500 pieces.