This morning, the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the State Printing Office and Mint presented the new 2021 Numismatic Collection, issued by the MEF and minted by the Italian Mint. The collection consists of 15 subjects inspired by Italian history, art, sport, science, nature and excellent food and wine that can be purchased on the e-commerce portal of the Italian Mint, as well as in the sales points of the Poligrafico and the State Mint from 26 January. The themes covered by this edition are intended to represent a feeling of unity and national cohesion which finds expression in the celebration of personalities, historical events and artists who symbolize our tradition and our entrepreneurial culture, but also in gratitude towards those who, in the last year marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, has unreservedly put its professionalism at the service of the community. In fact, the coin dedicated to the health professions is present in the 2021 Numismatic Collection, with a value of 2 euros and also intended for ordinary circulation, testifying to the recognition of the community during the emergency period. The Italian creativity and genius, recognized all over the world, are celebrated by the emissions for Dante, Caravaggio and Ennio Morricone. In the 2021 Collection, the now frequent use of colored inserts and the most recent phosphorescence technique, taken up in the coin depicting the Polar Bear, are enriched by some important innovations: this is the case of the coin dedicated to the invention of the telephone, in which the use of copper recalls the telephone token, or the coin dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Italian Basketball Federation, embellished by the rhodium-plating technique. Last but not least, the use of pure gold in coins that recall the myth of the Lira.
"2020 has changed many things and also numismatics. The forced digitization, connected to the pandemic, has accelerated an ongoing trend leading to a development of the online channel beyond the best expectations" - said Alessandro Rivera, Director General of the Treasury.
“This year we have decided to present the new numismatic collection at the Mint Museum in Rome. An evocative space, which traces the history of coins and the industrial history of the Mint, through the display of historical machinery used for minting. I believe that this Collection has achieved a perfect balance between history, culture and art, between tradition and modernity, but at the same time breaks the mold, projecting itself into the future of Italian numismatics, with themes that are increasingly in line with the culture of our times" said Paul Aielli Chief Executive Officer of the State Printing Office and Mint.
The themes, sketches and artistic techniques of the 2021 Collection were chosen as every year by a Commission made up of representatives of the Ministry, the Mint and Masters of Art.
Below are the subjects of the new Collection, 15 works to retrace our history::
1 – 150th Anniversary Rome Capital of Italy – 2 euro
2 – Cortina Alpine Skiing World Championships – 5 euro
3 – Nutella Italian Excellence Series – 5 euro (white, red and green)
4 – Emperors Series – Constantine – 10 euros
5 – Grace Deledda
6 – Italian Artists Series – Ennio Morricone – 2 bimetallic and silver versions (5 euro)
7 – Health professions – 2 euros
8 – Food and wine series – Emilia-Romagna, tortellini and lambrusco – 5 euros
9 – Food and wine series – Sicily, cannolo and passito – 5 euros
10 – 700th anniversary of the death of Dante Alighieri – Inferno – 2 gold and silver versions (20 and 5 euros)
11 – 450th birth of Caravaggio – 2 gold and silver versions (20 and 5 euros)
12 – 150th Anniversary of the invention of the telephone – Antonio Meucci – 5 euro
13 – Endangered Animals Series – Polar bear – 5 euro
14 – Iconic coin series – Lira – 2 versions (20 and 50 euros)
15 – 100th Italian Basketball Federation – 10 euros
