The designs for Italy's two 2-euro commemorative coins for 2026 have been unveiled.
The first coin is dedicated to the "800th Anniversary of the Death of Saint Francis of Assisi". The obverse features a central image of Saint Francis of Assisi, inspired by a 14th-century fresco by Simone Martini in the Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi (Umbria, Italy). The rim inscription reads "SAN FRANCESCO D'ASSISI 1226–2026", combining the saint's death year and the current year. At the lower right, the "R" mint mark for Rome appears, with the initials "AV" of designer Antonio Vecchio at the lower left. The outer ring bears the twelve stars of the European flag. The coin becomes legal tender in Italy on 1 January 2026 and is expected to have a mintage of approximately 3 million pieces.
The second coin is dedicated to the "200th Birthday of Carlo Collodi – Pinocchio". The obverse features a dancing Pinocchio, the hero of Carlo Collodi's masterwork "Pinocchio – The Story of a Marionette". In the right field, Pinocchio's shadow gazes in astonishment at the cricket perched on his elongated nose — the result of one of his lies. Along the upper rim, the inscription "CARLO COLLODI" appears alongside the years "1826" and "2026". The "R" mint mark for Rome is on the left, the country code "RI" on the right. The name "PINOCCHIO" runs along the bottom, with the initials "MB" of designer Marta Bonifacio at the lower right. The outer ring bears the twelve stars of the European flag. The coin becomes legal tender in Italy on 1 January 2026 and is expected to have a mintage of approximately 3 million pieces.
Source: Gazzetta Ufficiale, Decreto 10 novembre 2025 (GU Serie Generale n.293 del 18-12-2025)