Italy. New Gold and Silver Bullion Coins Continue Series Featuring Flora and Fauna.

Launched last year in an effort to enter the lucrative and competitive bullion market, the first coins were minted as silver one-ounce pieces with a nominal face value of 25 Euro-cents. Following on their successful sales numbers came the first  1/10^th ounce gold bullion coins released later in the year. This year’s design focuses on the Lilium species of flower. The Lilium candidum, otherwise known as the Madonna lily is widely considered as the national flower of Italy. Other native species found in the wild include Lilium martagon, found in the Dolomites and Alps and Lilium carniolicum which is found in Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

The obverse side which is shared on both gold and silver coins is designed by Monica Ciucci who depicts the front-facing image an allegorical female personifying Italian flora, with her head crowned with flowers olive branches, and oak personifying typical Italian flora. To the left and right of the female image are stylised branches of olive and oak along with the denomination of 0,75 EURO placed near the lower left and the specifications of the coin 1/10 oz Au 999.9 (gold) or 1 oz Ag 999 (silver) shown along the lower right rim. The text FLORA is placed along the upper left rim. Along the lower rim is the name of the designer, M. CIUCCI. The reverse side designed by Sylvia Ciucci features a bouquet of Lilies depicted in the centre, with the scientific name LILIUM shown in scripted text at the bottom right. Near the upper left of the bouquet is the year of issue, 2026 along with the mintmark R denoting the Mint of Rome. Around the rim and encircling the primary design is the inscription REPUBBLICA ITALIANA. Below the design along the lower rim is a decorative diamond and the name of the designer S. CIUCCI.

Available from the 11th February, the silver coins are encapsulated and presented in a heavy-gauge card case with magnetic closure. The specifications are printed on the outer side. *A consignment of the coins are also available in numbered card tubes from 000 / 650 containing twenty pieces and accompanied with a certificate of authenticity. The gold bullion coin which is sealed in a coin-card security format including specifications, graphic illustrations and a certificate of authenticity will be available from the 17th March. A 10 ounce silver coin is also available from the 17^th March and is presented in a custom case accompanied with a certificate of authenticity. For additional information, please visit the e-webshop of the IPZS.