The Italian 2 euro standard circulation coin features the iconic portrait of Dante Alighieri, the celebrated Florentine poet and author of the Divine Comedy. This design, originally created by the sculptor Raffaello Sanzio, highlights Italy’s profound cultural heritage and its central role in the development of European literature. The profile of the poet is encircled by the twelve stars of the European Union, representing the unity and shared values of the continent. Below the portrait, the letters RI represent the Repubblica Italiana, while the year of issue is positioned to the right. This design serves as a permanent emblem of Italian identity within the eurozone. The 2024 standard issue has a mintage of 59,981,000 coins.