Vatican 2 Euro 2018 European Year of Cultural Heritage

Cultural Heritage has an important role within Europe. Cultural Heritage can be found anywhere in Europe. In villages, cities, landscapes, in the ground - too many to mention. Cultural Heritage is of great value to the individual and society and it is important to preserve it for the future. To emphasize the importance of cultural heritage and its preservation, the European Commission has declared the year 2018 the European Year of Cultural Heritage. The Slogan is "Where the past meets the future". To emphasize the importance of the European Year of Cultural Heritage, the Vatican has issued a special 2 Euro coin. On the coin is an image of the Laocoön Sculpture Group. The marble statue, which is less than 1.90 meters in size, was discovered by chance in a vineyard in 1506 and is now the showpiece of the Vatican Museum. It is a perfect example of Cultural Heritage. On the Laocoön Sculpture Group the Trojan Priest Laocoön is depicted with his sons Thymbraeus and Anthiphantes, who are strangled by the snakes of Poseidon, after Laocoön had unsuccessfully warned the Trojans about the famous horse. Encircling the image is the Italian text æAnno Europeo del Patrimonio CulturaleÆ (European Year of Cultural Heritage). The year 2018 is also visible and at the bottom of the coin the country name Citta del Vaticano (Vatican City) is shown. The coin is presented in a luxury light green packaging and the circulation of this coin is only 76,000 copies. This coin is, obviously, legal tender.