Milan’s stunning cathedral features on the latest in the long-running Italy of Arts silver coin

Italy of Arts has been a long running series of sterling silver coins issued by this pretty Mediterranean country over the last decade. A mix of €5 and €10 denominations coins based on a difference in size and weight, the series has examined many of the beautiful architectural and artistic masterpieces that seemingly fill Italy from coast to coast.

Latest issue is one of the larger €10 denominated, 22 gram sterling silver pieces. Choosing the stunning Milan Cathedral as its subject, the depiction by Luciana De Simoni shows most of the main structure on the reverse face, while the obverse face has a closer look at the cathedrals famous rose window – a stained-glass window of the presbytery.

Quite a pretty coin, it manages to showcase both the architecture of this 600 year old building as a whole, and also some of the exquisite detailing that adorn a building as eclectic as this one. Presented in a box with a certificate of authenticity, it has a mintage of 4,000 pieces and a recommended price of €55.00. It’s available right now.

MILAN CATHEDRAL FACTS

The Duomo Milano is the fifth largest church building in the world and has an interior area of 11,700 square metres. Two of the four bigger churches were constructed in the 20th century, and none are older. It was Bishop Antonio da Saluzzo who initiated construction of the structure way back in 1386 and construction took over 600 years under the tutelage of at least 78 different architects.

It was 32 years before it was consecrated, but at that time, it consisted only of the nave. Major construction works, firstly in terracotta stone, but later in Candoglian marble as the buildings importance became more obvious, continued for two centuries.

No other building of any sort has as many statues in it as Milan Cathedral. Around 3,400 of them are scattered around the structure, including 135 gargoyles. A gold-coloured statue of Mary called the Madonnina (the Little Madonna) stands on the highest spire of the cathedral – 108 metres above the ground. The tallest man-made object in Milan, it was built in 1774 and was covered over during the Second World War to prevent enemy bombers using it as a target marker.