Obverse: The centre of the coin depicts Italian inventor and physicist Guglielmo Marconi, with Pope Pius XI on the right and Eugenio Pacelli, then Vatican Secretary of State and later Pope Pius XII, on the left. A stylised radio wave appears at the bottom. The inscription GUGLIELMO MARCONI and the years 1874 and 2024 at the top mark the 150th anniversary of the scientist's birth. The inscription CITTÀ DEL VATICANO appears below, while the R mint mark of the Rome Mint is shown on the left. The design was created by Loredana Pancotto.
Reverse: The reverse features the standard design common to all €2 coins: a geographical map of Western Europe positioned on the right side of the coin and extending across both the inner and outer parts. The inscription 2 EURO appears above the map, while the numeral 2 is placed against the background of the Atlantic Ocean. The outer ring contains 12 stars positioned on either side of the map, with vertical lines visually connecting the upper and lower stars.
About the coin: The coin was issued to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Guglielmo Marconi. Marconi was one of the most important pioneers of wireless communication and received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1909. The coin's design is based on a historic photograph taken on 12 February 1931, the day Vatican Radio was inaugurated. At the request of Pope Pius XI, Marconi built the Vatican radio station and personally announced its first broadcast. The coin was issued in BU and Proof versions.
