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Saturday 7 August 2021

1970) 450th Anniversary of the Birth of Caravaggio (1571-2021), Italy: "Italian Painters Coin Series": A 20 Euro Gold Coin and a 5 Euro Silver Coin issued by the "Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato" (IPZS): Date/Year of Coin Release: 02.09.2021:

1970) 450th Anniversary of the Birth of Caravaggio (1571-2021), Italy: "Italian Painters Coin Series": A 20 Euro Gold Coin and a 5 Euro Silver Coin issued by the "Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato" (IPZS): Date/Year of Coin Release: 02.09.2021:

This is one of the Celebratory Coins of the Numismatic Collection 2021, issued by the Ministry of Economy and Finance and minted by the State Mint. 

The collection consists of 15 subjects inspired by history, art, sport, science, nature and Italian food and wine excellences

Below are the subjects of the new Collection, 15 works which showcase Italian history:

150th Anniversary of the institution of Rome as the Capital of Italy – 2 Euros

World Alpine Ski Cortina – 5 Euros

Italian Excellences Nutella Series – 5 Euros (White, Red and Green)

Emperors series – Constantine – 10 Euros (Gold)

Prominent writers - Grazia Deledda - 5 Euros

Italian Artists Series – Ennio Morricone – 2 Bimetallic and Silver variants (5 Euros each)

Health Professions – 2 Euros

Food and Wine Series – Emilia-Romagna, tortellino and lambrusco – 5 Euros

Food and Wine Series – Sicily, cannolo and passito – 5 Euros

700th Anniversary of the death of Dante Alighieri – Inferno – 2 Gold and Silver variants (20 and 5 Euros)

450th Anniversary of the Birth of Caravaggio – 2 gold and silver versions (20 and 5 Euros)

150th Anniversary of the invention of the telephone – Antonio Meucci – 5 Euros

Endangered Animals Series - Polar Bear – 5 Euros

Iconic Coin Series - Lira – 2 versions (20 and 50 Euros)

100th Italian Basketball Federation – 10 Euros

The themes, sketches and artistic techniques of the 2021 Collection have been chosen, as every year, by a Commission composed of representatives of the Ministry, the Mint and Masters of Art.

The Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato (IPZS) has released new 20 Euro Gold and 5 Euro Silver Coins on the 450th Anniversary of the birth of Caravaggio (1571-2021):

The Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance has issued, as part of the 2021 Numismatic Collection minted by the Italian State Mint, Gold and Silver coin variants commemorating the "450th Anniversary of the Birth of Caravaggio (1571-2021)":.

Michelangelo Merisi (Michele Angelo Merigi or Amerighi) da Caravaggio, known as Caravaggio 29.09.1571–18.07.1610), was an Italian painter active in Rome for most of his artistic life

During the final four years of his life he moved between Naples, Malta, and Sicily until his death. 

His paintings have been characterized by art critics as combining a realistic observation of the human state, both physical and emotional, with a dramatic use of lighting, which had a formative influence on Baroque painting.

Caravaggio employed close physical observation with a dramatic use of chiaroscuro that came to be known as tenebrism. He made the technique a dominant stylistic element, transfixing subjects in bright shafts of light and darkening shadows. 

Caravaggio vividly expressed crucial moments and scenes, often featuring violent struggles, torture, and death. He worked rapidly, with live models, preferring to forgo drawings and work directly onto the canvas. 

His inspiring effect on the new Baroque style that emerged from Mannerism was profound.

 His influence can be seen directly or indirectly in the work of Peter Paul Rubens, Jusepe de Ribera, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, and Rembrandt. Artists heavily under his influence were called the "Caravaggisti" (or "Caravagesques"), as well as tenebrists or tenebrosi ("shadowists").

Caravaggio trained as a painter in Milan before moving to Rome when he was in his twenties. 

He developed a considerable name as an artist, and as a violent, touchy and provocative man. A brawl led to a death sentence for murder and forced him to flee to Naples. 

There he again established himself as one of the most prominent Italian painters of his generation.

 He travelled in 1607 to Malta and on to Sicily, and pursued a papal pardon for his sentence. 

In 1609 he returned to Naples, where he was involved in a violent clash; his face was disfigured and rumours of his death circulated. Questions about his mental state arose from his erratic and bizarre behavior. 

He passed away in 1610 under uncertain circumstances while on his way from Naples to Rome. Reports stated that he died of a fever, but suggestions have been made that he was murdered or that he died of lead poisoning.

Caravaggio's innovations inspired Baroque painting, but the latter incorporated the drama of his chiaroscuro without the psychological realism

The style evolved and fashions changed, and Caravaggio fell out of favour. In the 20th century interest in his work revived, and his importance to the development of Western art was re-evaluated. 

Nevertheless, the 20th-century art historian André Berne-Joffroy stated: "What begins in the work of Caravaggio is, quite simply, modern painting."

The Commemorative Coins (20 Euro Gold and 5 Euro Silver):



On the Obverse of the 20 Euro Gold Coin and 5 Euro Silver Coin is depicted a portrait of Caravaggio from a pastel drawing by Ottavio Leoni (Biblioteca Marucelliana, Florence).. 

Around is the inscription “REPUBBLICA ITALIANA” with the name of the designer "PETRASSI" in exergue.

On the Reverse of the 20 Euro Gold Coin and 5 Euro Silver Coin is depicted an angel with large swallow wings seen from behind, while playing the violin, detail from "Rest on the Flight into Egypt", a painting dating back to 1597 by Michelangelo Merisi, also known as Caravaggio (Galleria Doria Pamphilj, Rome).

On the left, the inscription reads - "CARAVAGGIO" and at centre left, is the mint mark of the Mint of Rome "R".

On the right are the dates "1571-2021" (the year of the painter's birth and that of the coin issue respectively), as well as, the denominational value - "20 EURO".

i) The specifications of the 20 Euro Gold Coin are:

Country of issue: Italy; Coin Theme:"450 Anniversary of the Birth of Caravaggio"; Date/Year: 02.09.2021; Denomination/Face Value: € 20.00 (Twenty Euro); Metal Composition: .925 Fineness Gold (Au); Weight: 6.45 grams; Diameter/Size: 21.00 mm; Coin Quality: Proof (P); Mintage: 1,500 pieces; Minted by: Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato (IPZS);  Designer: Silvia Petrassi.

Each coin is encapsulated and presented in a branded IPZS case accompanied by a Certificate Of Authenticity (COA)

The specifications of the 5 Euro Silver Coin are:

Country of issue: Italy; Coin Theme:"450 Anniversary of the Birth of Caravaggio"; Year: 02.09.2021; Denomination/Face Value: € 5.00 (Five Euro); Metal Composition: .925 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 18.0 grams; Diameter/Size: 32.0 mm; Coin Quality: Proof (P) with applied colour; Mintage: 6,000 pieces; Minted by: Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato (IPZS);  Designer: Silvia Petrassi.

Each coin is encapsulated and presented in a branded IPZS case accompanied by a Certificate Of Authenticity (COA)










For some other interesting posts from Italy/The Vatican, please visit the following links:















2 comments:

  1. Santosh Khanna has commented:
    "Very good information. Thanks for sharing."

    ReplyDelete