Italys Europa Star coin showcases the iron and glass roof of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan
Named after Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of the Kingdom of Italy, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II was designed in 1861 and is one of the world’s oldest shopping malls. Built by Giuseppe Mengoni between 1865 and 1877, it consists of two glass-vaulted arcades intersecting in an octagon covering a street. Acknowledged as an important reference on 19th-century iron-and-glass architecture, the roof consists of four barrel vaults, each around 14.5m wide and 8.5m high, crowned with a 37.5m diameter dome. It’s an impressive structure.
Every year a select group of countries in the Euro-zone release coins with a common theme. Called the Europa Coin Programme, the theme for 2017 is Five Ages of Europe: Age of Glass and Iron and in light of that, the Italian subject is perfectly chosen. The coin obverse highlights the coins membership of the programme with the five-pointed star logo featuring prominently. Integrated into that is the female face, the embodiment of Italy.
The reverse face is straight to the point, depicting a view of the interior of the Galleria showing three of the domes and some of the facade below. The name of the building is inscribed on this face as well as the date and the denomination, the latter being integrated in a particularly clever way. Struck in 22 grams of sterling 0.925 silver, the coin will sell for $60.00
2017 GALLERIA VITTORIO EMANUELE IL DI MILANO SILVER COIN
MINTS DESCRIPTION
Cast-iron architecture flourished in Europe between the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, especially in France, England and Italy, where the most representative building is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan. The Gallery, designed in Neo-Renaissance style by architect Giuseppe Mengoni, strikes a perfect balance between the modern cast-iron and glass roof and the precious, refned decorations.
REVERSE: view of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan by architect Giuseppe Mengoni specially focused on the castiron dome; above, the value “10 EURO” and the year of the coin’s issue “2017”; the arch-shaped inscription “● GALLERIA ● VITTORIO ● EMANUELE ● II ●”; in the centre, the inscription “● ARCHITETTURE ● DEL ● FERRO ●”.
OBVERSE: a face representing Italy within a fve-pointed star with details from the emblem of the Italian Republic: a cogwheel, oak and olive branches; above, between two points of the star, a towered crown; below, the logo of the Europa Star Programme and the name of the designer “COLANERI”; below, on the right, the letter “R” identifying the Mint of Rome; around, “REPUBBLICA ITALIANA”.
SPECIFICATION
| NAME | 2017 GALLERIA VITTORIO EMANUELE |
| DENOMINATION | €10 Euro |
| COMPOSITION | 0.925 silver |
| WEIGHT | 22.0 grams |
| DIAMETER | 34.00 mm |
| FINISH | Proof |
| MODIFICATIONS | None |
| MINTAGE | 5,000 |
| BOX / COA | TBC / Yes |
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