The Vatican won the Best Gold Coin category for the Coin of the Year (COTY) awards for 2024-dated coins. This is the first time the Vatican won a COTY category and the first time a Vatican coin was awarded Coin of the Year.
As the name suggests, the winning 50 EURO gold coin centers on the concept of war and peace. The War & Peace coin (KM#601) was designed by Chiara Principe and engraved by Claudia Momoni. It uses a technique that involves two planes, one with satin gold and the other with polished gold.
The obverse depicts the concept of war and peace linked by a single element, barbed wire symbolizing war and suffering that slowly turns into an olive branch representing peace and rebirth. On the left side of the coin, behind the barbed wire representing war, a man holding a rifle is seen with smoke and rubble in the distance shown in the background. On the right in the foreground, behind the olive branch representing peace, are a father and a little girl with a flower in hand watching two birds fly high in the sky.
Above the primary design along the upper rim is the text CITTA DEL VATICANO with the denomination divided along with the design.
The reverse features the crest of His Holiness Pope Francis, which depicts the papal mitre and crossed keys. Above the crest is the legend FRANCISCUS PP. ANNO XII. The papal motto MISERANDO ATQUE ELIGENDO is shown below the crest.
The proof quality War & Peace coin was struck by the Italian Mint. It measures 28 mm in diameter, includes edge lettering, and weighs 15 grams. Mintage is limited to 799 coins in the 2024 Vatican proof set.