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БългарскиReverse
Obverse
Italy · 60th anniversary of human rights
Issue date10 Dec 2008
Total mintage2,500,000
EU maximum5,000,000
Editions1
Edge lettering2 ★ × 6, alternately upright/inverted
InscriptionRI / 2008 / MCC / R / DIRITTI UMANI
DesignerMaria Carmela Colaneri
mintInstituto Poligrafico e Zecca Dello Stato, Roma
Issue occasion
The commemorative coin marks the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The design depicts a man and a woman, as well as symbols of the rights to peace, food, work and freedom: an olive branch, an ear of wheat, a cogwheel and a piece of barbed wire. Two broken chain links form the number “60”, with the inscription “DIRITTI UMANI” below.
The design
The coin’s inner disc depicts a man and a woman with the symbols of the rights to peace, food, work and freedom: an olive branch, an ear of wheat, a cogwheel and a piece of barbed wire, as well as two broken links of a chain forming the number “60o”. In the centre, the initials “RI” of the issuing state are embossed; on the left is the year 2008, on the right the initials “MCC” of the artist Maria Carmela Colaneri and the mintmark “R”; the inscription “DIRITTI UMANI” runs across the lower part of the inner disc.
The coin’s outer ring depicts the twelve stars of the European flag.
The coin’s outer ring depicts the twelve stars of the European flag.
Background on the topic
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights emerged in the context of the Second World War, the National Socialist policy of persecution and extermination, as well as the displacement and violence suffered by millions. Following the founding of the United Nations in 1945, a common standard was to be formulated defining which rights every person is entitled to, regardless of origin, gender, language, religion or political conviction.
The text was drafted by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. It was chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt, the former First Lady of the United States. Representatives of different states and legal traditions participated in the deliberations. The UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration on 10 December 1948 at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris. No state voted against it; several states abstained.
The Declaration comprises 30 articles. It combines classical civil liberties, such as protection from torture, freedom of expression and religion, and the right to a fair trial, with political, economic, social and cultural rights. These include political participation, social security, education and an adequate standard of living. The text is addressed not only to states, but describes the realisation of these rights as the responsibility of all people and social institutions.
As a resolution of the General Assembly, the Declaration was initially not a legally binding treaty under international law. However, it became the basis for subsequent human rights agreements. These include, in particular, the two UN Covenants adopted in 1966: the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Numerous constitutions and regional human rights systems also adopted its principles.
Since 1950, 10 December has been observed as Human Rights Day. The 2008 anniversary therefore offered a clear international reference for a circulation commemorative coin. For Italy, there was also a temporal connection to the republican constitution, which entered into force in 1948 and enshrines fundamental rights, equality, and social and political participation. The coin thus forms part of the public commemoration of the international human rights order developed after 1945.
The text was drafted by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. It was chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt, the former First Lady of the United States. Representatives of different states and legal traditions participated in the deliberations. The UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration on 10 December 1948 at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris. No state voted against it; several states abstained.
The Declaration comprises 30 articles. It combines classical civil liberties, such as protection from torture, freedom of expression and religion, and the right to a fair trial, with political, economic, social and cultural rights. These include political participation, social security, education and an adequate standard of living. The text is addressed not only to states, but describes the realisation of these rights as the responsibility of all people and social institutions.
As a resolution of the General Assembly, the Declaration was initially not a legally binding treaty under international law. However, it became the basis for subsequent human rights agreements. These include, in particular, the two UN Covenants adopted in 1966: the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Numerous constitutions and regional human rights systems also adopted its principles.
Since 1950, 10 December has been observed as Human Rights Day. The 2008 anniversary therefore offered a clear international reference for a circulation commemorative coin. For Italy, there was also a temporal connection to the republican constitution, which entered into force in 1948 and enshrines fundamental rights, equality, and social and political participation. The coin thus forms part of the public commemoration of the international human rights order developed after 1945.
Interesting Facts
This commemorative coin is available only for circulation and not in any other official issue forms.
eBay price analysis
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View price analysis2 Euro BU
- Mintage
- 2,500,000
- Market price
- €9.50
- Edge lettering
- 2 ★ × 6, alternately upright/inverted
Mintage by issue type
BU
2,500,000