San Marino. New Gold Bullion Collector Coins Released in the Peregrine Falcon Series

Following on last year’s release of one-ounce silver coins, Europe’s smallest Republic seeks to enter the numismatic bullion market. As the third smallest country in Europe after Vatican City and Monaco, San Marino is a landlocked country, completely enclosed within Italy and located on the northeastern slopes of the Apennine Mountains, near the Adriatic Coast.

However, the fifth-smallest country in the world has developed an impressive catalogue of collector and circulation coins since their first national coinage was produced and released in 1864. As part of an agreement between Italy and San Marino, Sammarinese coinage was produced in the same denominations and specifications as Italian coinage and was known as the Sammarinese Lire. Both currencies were interchangeable at an equal value and as denominations in Italy were removed from circulation and new values added, these coins were also replicated in San Marino. With the entry of Italy into the Euro-zone from 2002, coins of San Marino were also denominated in Euro although the country is not a member-state of the Euro-zone. The choice to dedicate the first silver and gold coins in this new series to the peregrine falcon is to be found in the elegance of these native birds of prey that nest in niches in the cliffs near San Marion’s First Tower on the summit of Mount Titano. The peregrine falcon is also the fastest flying bird and can regularly reach speeds of more than 100 mph.

The gold coins are produced by the Austrian Mint at their facilities in Vienna on behalf of the State Treasury - Banca Centrale della Repubblica di San Marino. The reverse side of the coin is created by the artist Helmut Andexlinger who has depicted a peregrine falcon perched on a branch. Along the upper left rim is the inscription PEREGRINE FALCON with the additional text SAN MARINO and the year 2025 placed along the upper right rim. The coins’ specifications and denomination 1/10 OZ · Au 9999 · 10 EURO are shown along the lower rim. The reverse side depicts the image of the official coat of arms of the Republic of San Marino designed by Antonella Napolione. The crest which illustrates three towers topped with feathers on a mountain within a crowned shield is believed to have been first used in the fourteenth century and is featured on the national flag. The text REPUBBLICA DI SAN MARINO encircles the crest.

Available from the 6th November, the coins are encapsulated. For additional information on this and other numismatic releases offered by the Philatelic and Numismatics Division of San Marino, please visit their e-webshop.