Vatican 2 Euro 2018 Padre Pio in Mintholder

As you know, a large part of the Euro coins collectors have as their motto "I collect coins and not the packaging". A public secret is that there is more demand for coins in a coin holder than in a Coincard!The theme of this 2018 special 2 Euro coin from the Vatican is Padre Pio (Father Pius). Padre Pio, born in 1887, came from a simple family. He was not considered a super intelligent man, but he had special gifts. He was already ordained as a priest at the age of 23. Padre Pio was, and is, incredibly popular in Italy. As a Capuchin monk he had a big heart for sinners and the sick, and in the year before his death no less than 250,000 people confessed to him. In the year 2002 Padre Pio was declared Holy by the Vatican. Padre Pio died in 1968 and in the year 2018 it is 50 years since Padre Pio passed away. As a reminder, the Vatican has issued a special 2 Euro coin. On the coin Padre Pio is portrayed in a humble posture looking to the right. To the left and right are the years 1968 and 2018. At the top of the coin is the country name "Citta del Vaticano" (Vatican City) and at the bottom of the coin is the name æPadre PioÆ. The coin is packaged in a professionally printed airtight coin holder. This coin is obviously legal tender. The circulation of this coin is only 76,000 copies.