825) San Marino: A Euro Coin set from the First Series of Coins (2002-2016) containing coins in the denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 Euro Cents and 1 and 2 Euros brought out in 2016:

825) San Marino: A Euro Coin set from the First Series of Coins (2002-2016) containing coins in the denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 Euro Cents and 1 and 2 Euros brought out in 2016:

San Marino (or "Sammarino") is the world's oldest surviving Republic, having been established in 301 AD.

It is officially called the "Republic of San Marino" or "Serenissima Repubblica di San Marino" (in Italian) and is an enclaved micro-state surrounded by Italy. It is situated on the Iberian Peninsula on the North-eastern side of the Apennine Mountains.

The Republic of San Marino is an independent sovereign state that has close ties with Italy, but no formal relationship with the EU. 

Landlocked San Marino is one of the world's smallest countries,  surrounded by Italy in the nature of the city-states of ancient Europe.

Its size is about 61.0 sq. kilometres (or about 24.0 sq. miles) and it has a population of about 35,000 citizens. The capital of San Marino is the "City of San Marino" and its largest city is Serravalle. It has the smallest population of all the members of the Council of Europe.

The country derives its name from Marinus - a stonemason - who belonged to the Roman colony on the island of Rab,  in modern day Croatia.

In 257 AD, Marinus participated in the construction of Rimini's city walls after their destruction by Liburnian pirates.

In 301 AD, Marinus, thereafter, went on to set up an independent monastic community on Monte Titano (or Mount Titano), which dominates San Marino's landscape. Presently three defensive fortresses dot Titano's slopes looking out to the Adriatic coast.

In the 19th Century, during the later phase of the Italian unification  process, San Marino served as a refuge for many people being persecuted because of their support for unification. In recognition of this support, Giuseppe Garibaldi conceded the wishes of San Marino not to be incorporated into the new Italian State.

In 1797, when Napoleon invaded Italy, he respected the independence of San Marino and even offered to extent its territory.

In 1862, after Italy became an independent national state, a series of treaties confirmed San Marino's independence.

San Marino is governed by the Constitution of San Marino ("Leges Statutae Republicae Sancti Marini") - a series of six books written in Latin in the late 26th Century, that spell out the country's political system among other matters. The country has the earliest written governing documents (or constitution) still in effect.

Its economy is based chiefly on finance, industry, services and tourism and it is among the wealthiest countries in terms of GDP/per capita, comparable to the most developed European regions. Its economy is highly stable, with one of the lowest unemployment rates in Europe, no national debt and budgetary surplus.

Interestingly, it is the only country in the world with more vehicles than people.

Although San Marino has no formal relationship with the European Union (EU), it sits within the EU Customs Union but is not a part of the Schengen area of border-free travel.

Italy is the main commercial partner of the Republic of San Marino, and for geographical, historical and cultural reasons, is the country with which there is a wider and more structured network of relationships.

The extent of the bonds/treaties between San Marino and Italy:

The Convention of Friendship and Good Neighbourhood of 1939, represents the framework agreement still in force that sets the basic principles for the collaboration and cooperation between the two countries.

The relationships between the two states is characterised by several agreements on different issues - from those of an economic-financial nature, to those related to culture, education and security. 

San Marino Coinage:

San Marino uses the euro as its currency after striking a bilateral monetary agreement with the EU. It was one of the founding members of the Euro Zone and started minting coins in 2002.

It is one of the few member countries of the Eurozone, which has a different motif for each of its eight coins. All the coins are inscribed with the name of "San Marino" and the "12 stars of the European Union (EU). 

Two Coin Series  have been brought out by San Marino so far:

The first Sammarinese Euro Coin Series is called the (2002-2016) Series:

The Obverses of the Euro nine-Coin set in the denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 Euro-cents and 1 and 2 Euros (x 2 coins), with a description sheet in Italian

All Sammarinese coins are minted by the "Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato" (IPZS), in Rome, Italy.

The Reverses of the Coins carry images of different buildings and monuments in San Marino

 A set of the Reverses of 8 Euro Coins from the 2002-2016 Series at a glance

Detailed description of the Euro coin set - Reverses:

The Reverse of the 1 Euro Cent Coin depicts the Third Tower (II Montale).

The Reverse of the 2 Euro Cents Coin depicts the Statue of Liberty.

The Reverse of the 5 Euro Cents Coin depicts the First Tower ("La Guaita") which dates back to the 11th Century.

The Reverse of the 10 Euro Cents Coin depicts the Basilica of St. Marinus (Basilica del Santo) built in 1826.

The Reverse of the 20 Euro Cents Coin depicts a Saint Marinus, the founder of San Marino inspired painting of the School of Guernico.

The Reverse of the 50 Euro Cents Coin depicts Mount Titano and the three Defensive Towers/Fortresses.

The Reverse of the 1 Euro  Coin depicts the Sammarinese Coat of Arms.

The Reverse of the 2 Euros Coin depicts the Government Palace (Palazzo Pubblico).

The Reverse of the second 2 Euros Coin included in the set depicts a detail from the painting of San Marino by Giovanni Battista Urbinelli.

Around the edge of the Two Euro Coins appears the number "2" followed by "*", which sequence is repeated six times. Each "2" is inverted with respect to the preceding and following "2" ("2" is alternately upright and inverted).

The Second Sammarinese Coin Series (2017-present day) and their Reverse designs:

1 Euro Cent (Coat of arms of the Republic of San Marino),

2 Euro Cents (San Marino's city gate),

5 Euro Cents (Church of Saint Quirinus),

10 Euro Cents (Church of Saint Francis),

20 Euro Cents (Mount Titano (Monte Titano) and the three towers/fortresses),

50 Euro Cents (Detail from the portrait of San Marino by late 19th Century artist Emilio Retrosi),

1 Euro (La Cesta, the second tower/fortress from the group of towers located on the three peaks of Mount Titano in the city of San Marino, the capital),

2 Euros (Detail from the painting "The Portrait of San Marino by Giovanni Battista Urbinelli).

Mint Marks:

The coins carry the "R" mint mark of the Mint of Rome.

The coins also carry the designer's initials "CH" (Frantisek Chochola) and the engraver's initials "ELF (Ettore Loreno F.) and "INC" (the Italian abbreviation for "engraver").

Sammarinese Coat of Arms:

                     An image of the Sammarinese Coat of Arms

Armiger: Republic of San Marino

Arms Adopted: 2011 (Previous version of Arms adopted in the 14th Century)

Description: The Coat of Arms of the Republic is surmounted by a closed crown (symbol of sovereignty).

The shield is azure (blue), three mountains very (green), Towers argent (three silver towers - the three citadels of san Marino - La Guaita, La Cesta and La Montale), windowed, embattled and masoned sable by ostrich plume argent (each decorated with a weather vane consisting of a silver ostrich feather). The shield is surrounded by two branches vert, overlapped in saltire below a shield, one of laurel, the other of oak, fructed Or (An oak and laurel branch surround the Coat of arms are symbols of stability of the Republic and the defence of liberty).

On a ribbon argent, the motto "LIBERTAS" in capital sable ( Libertas stands for Freedom and of taking in victims of political persecution in the early years of the Republic and to the maintenance of independence in the midst of larger states. The motto is abbreviated from the founder Marinus "Relinquo vos liberos ab utroque homine" (Latin for "I leave you free from both men")

Commemorative Coins:

San Marino also brings out several Commemorative Coins to celebrate milestones, out-standing achievement and creating awareness about social causes. 

 1) World Water Day (WWD): March 22 is designated WWD every year since 1993 by UNGA (United Nations General assembly) : Theme 2017 " "Why Waste Water"? A silver coin brought out by the Treasury of the Republic of San Marino on 26.06.2017

2) San Marino: A Euro coin set from the First Series of Coins (2002-2016) containing coins in the denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 Euro Cents and 1 and 2 Euros brought out in 2016

(The above coin set is from the collection of Jayant Biswas. Post researched and written by Rajeev Prasad)