Portugal 2€ commemorative coin 2023 - Peace

Feature:

Description: The design features the half-length portrait of Alessandro Manzoni, inspired by the image of the Italian writer as depicted on the 100 000 lire banknote issued in 1967. On the left, ‘RI’, acronym of the Italian Republic, the dates ‘1873-2023’, the year of the death of the writer and the year of the coin’s issue, respectively, and the arch-shaped inscription ‘ALESSANDRO MANZONI’. On the right, ‘R’, identifying the Mint of Rome, and ‘AV’, initials of the designer Antonio Vecchio. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 3 000 000 coins

Issuing date: January 2023

Feature: The Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU

Description: The design shows two images. The first one is the logo of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU. Surrounding the logo are the captions: “ESPANA 2023 – PRESIDENCIA ESPANOLA and ‘CONSEJO DE LA UNION EUROPEA’ (Spain 2023 – Spanish Presidency and Council of the European Union). The second image, in the lower part, represents the mint mark of the Fabrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre Real Casa de la Moneda with the crowned ‘M’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 1 500 000 coins

In 1948, Belgium finally introduced universal women's suffrage. This made Belgium the last European country, after Greece and Switzerland, in which women were given a vote. The ladies could not effectively use this vote until the parliamentary elections in June 1949. Earlier, the focus of feminist movements was on general civil rights and equal opportunities in education; in other words the economic emancipation of women. On the political front, one of the main concerns was that women, more than men, would be influenced by their pastor when voting. On the coin itself, you will see the text 'ALGEMEEN VROUWENKIESRECHT SUFFRAGE UNIVERSEL FÉMININ' all around. Inside it, the Venus symbol as a voting box with a red pencil. Next to it: 75 JAAR ANS. Next to it, the country indication BE and the year 2023, below it the mintmaster's mark (an erlenmeyer flask with aster) and the privy mark of the Royal Dutch Mint (the Mercury staff). Bottom right 'IB' the initials of designer Iris Bruijns. The BU version in coincard shows the glee with which the acquired right to vote was announced in the newspapers 75 years ago and also shows women exercising their right to vote.

Feature:
Issuing volume: 125 000 coins

Feature: The introduction of the euro as the official currency of Croatia on 1 January 2023

Description: The design features the inscriptions of the issuing country ‘HRVATSKA’ (Croatia) and the year of issuance ‘2023.’, depicted horizontally, as well as the words ‘ČLANICA EUROPODRUČJA’ (member of the euro area), which are inscribed along the outer edge of the coin’s core. These inscriptions symbolically form a stylised symbol of the euro ‘€’. The other central motive of the coin is Croatia's distinctive and recognisable symbol, the Croatian checkerboard, which represents part of the coat of arms of the Republic of Croatia. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 250 000 coins

Feature: 30 years of the entry of the Principality of Andorra into the United Nations

Description: The United Nations is represented by two symbolic elements: two laurel wreaths and a globe, which forms part of the number 30 that has been represented, with the inscription ANYS (years) and the year date 2023 below. In the upper part of the design there is the coat of arms of Andorra and the inscription ‘ANDORRA MEMBRE DE LES NACIONS UNIDES’ (Andorra member of the United Nations). The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 70 000 coins

Issuing date: Last quarter of 2023