2 euro San Marino 2004 "Bartolomeo Borghesi"

The San Marino 2 Euro 2004 “Bartolomeo Borghesi” is a commemorative euro coin dedicated to one of the most influential scholars in the history of modern numismatics and Roman epigraphy. Bartolomeo Borghesi (1781–1860) devoted his life to the study of ancient coins, inscriptions and Roman history. After moving to San Marino in 1821, he became closely associated with the Republic and remained there until his death. His scientific work played an important role in the development of systematic numismatic and epigraphic research in the 19th century.

The commemorative side features a portrait bust of Bartolomeo Borghesi at the centre. The portrait is surrounded by the twelve stars of the European Union, while the year 2004 appears at the bottom. To the left is the inscription “Bartolomeo Borghesi”, together with the mintmark “R” of the Italian State Mint and the initials “E.L.F.” of engraver Ettore Lorenzo Frapiccini. The name “SAN MARINO” is placed to the right of the portrait. The restrained portrait composition gives the coin a distinctly historical and scholarly character.

The common side preserves the first-generation 2 euro design used during the early years of the single European currency, with the denomination 2 EURO and a map of Europe surrounded by the characteristic linear background. The coin was struck at the Italian State Mint in Rome, identified by the “R” mintmark. As one of San Marino’s early commemorative 2 euro issues, the 2004 Borghesi coin is particularly interesting for collectors specializing in the first years of San Marino euro coinage.

With a mintage of only 110,000 pieces, this issue occupies an important place among early San Marino commemorative euros. The subject is especially relevant to numismatists because Borghesi himself was a pioneering researcher of ancient coinage. The BU (Brilliant Uncirculated) version in its original Coincard presentation is well suited to collectors who want to preserve the coin in an official-style presentation rather than as an individual circulation piece.

Specifications:

• Country: San Marino
• Denomination: 2 Euro
• Year: 2004
• Theme: Bartolomeo Borghesi
• Quality: BU (Brilliant Uncirculated)
• Packaging: Original Coincard
• Mintage: 110,000 coins
• Metal: Bimetallic; copper-nickel outer ring and nickel-brass inner core
• Diameter: 25.75 mm
• Weight: 8.50 g
• Thickness: 2.20 mm
• Shape: Round
• Edge: Finely reeded with repeated “2” and five-pointed star motifs
• Mint: Italian State Mint, Rome
• Mintmark: R
• Engraver: Ettore Lorenzo Frapiccini (E.L.F.)
• Issue date: December 2004

Package includes: Original Coincard with the San Marino 2 Euro 2004 “Bartolomeo Borghesi” commemorative coin in BU (Brilliant Uncirculated) quality.