The Italian 2 euro standard circulation coin features a portrait of Dante Alighieri, the renowned Italian poet and author of the Divine Comedy. This design, originally created by the artist Raffaele Di Gioia, draws inspiration from the famous portrait painted by Raphael in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace. By choosing the father of the Italian language to grace its highest denomination, Italy honours its profound literary heritage and the cultural foundations of the nation. The national side also incorporates the monogram of the Italian Republic, RI, alongside the year of issue and the mint mark of the Rome Mint. Surrounding the central motif are the twelve stars of the European Union, representing the unity and shared values of the continent. The 2018 issue has a mintage of 23,977,000 coins.