The Italian 2016 standard 2 euro coin features the iconic portrait of Dante Alighieri, the celebrated Italian poet and author of the Divine Comedy. This design, created by the renowned artist Raffaello Sanzio, depicts the profile of the Florentine writer, symbolising Italy's profound cultural heritage and its central role in the development of the Italian language and Western literature. The portrait is framed by the twelve stars of the European Union, while the inscription 'RI' for Repubblica Italiana appears to the right of the figure. This standard circulation issue maintains the consistent national design that represents Italy's historical identity within the eurozone. The coin was issued in 2016 with a mintage of 1,977,000 pieces.