Description
Since 1945, UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) has been listing sites as “World Heritage”. The aim of this programme is to classify, name and conserve cultural or natural properties of importance to the common heritage of humanity. The program was founded by the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted at the UNESCO General Conference on 16th November 1972. In 2019, 1,073 properties in 167 countries are listed.
In 2025, the Coliseum will be honoured.
THE COLISEUM, THE HISTORIC CENTRE OF ROME, THE PROPERTIES OF THE HOLY SEE LOCATED IN THIS CITY BENEFITING FROM EXTRA-TERRITORIALITY RIGHTS AND SAINT-PAUL-OUTSIDE-THE-WALLS
A veritable open-air museum, Rome’s historic centre offers an immersion into more than two millennia of history, with numerous remains from antiquity. The Colosseum, for example, is a true testament to Roman engineering and architecture. With a capacity of up to 50,000 spectators, it was the setting for a number of shows, including the famous gladiator fights, wild animal hunts and re-enactments of naval battles. Rome’s historic centre has suffered many disasters, including the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD and the earthquake of 1349, but the city has always recovered and rebuilt.
On the obverse, in the foreground, a Roman gladiator, equipped with a shield and sword, confronts a lion. This scene is reminiscent of the “shows” that took place in the Colosseum, where gladiators fought wild beasts to entertain the public. In the background, a detailed view of the left-hand side of the Colosseum and a schematic view of the right-hand side to illustrate its construction/reconstruction.
The reverse is common to all the coins in the UNESCO series for 2025. It depicts the globe with parallels and meridians on the left-hand side and inscriptions of major UNESCO World Heritage sites on the right-hand side. The inscriptions are engraved in stone, echoing the Rosetta Stone. The left-hand side of the globe is surrounded by the UNESCO logo and the words “World Heritage”. The face value is inscribed on the left-hand side of the globe, blending in perfectly with the parallels and meridians.
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