There is a coin dedicated to the legendary Italian athlete Pietro Mennea and to the Foundation of the European Athletics Championships Rome 2024, among those that narrate the history of Italy. The coin has been exhibited today at the Ministry of Economy and Finance during the presentation of the Numismatic Collection 2024, in the presence of the Minister of Economy and Finance, Mr. Giancarlo Giorgetti, the Minister of Culture Mr. Gennaro Sangiuliano, the President of the Italian Athletics Federation and EuroRoma 2024 Foundation, Mr. Stefano Mei, the President and CEO of the Polygraph Institute and Mint of State, Mr. Paolo Perrone and Mr. Francesco Soro. As the event’s godmother, the Italian TV presenter Mrs. Mara Venier, and as guest of honour, the wife of Pietro Mennea, Mrs. Manuela Oliveri.
The celebratory silver coin is worth 10 euros and has the elliptical design of an athletics track. On the reverse side of the coin, the mythical Italian sprinter is represented, wearing bib number 433 which he had on when he won the gold medal in the 200-meter race at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games, shorts with number 8 indicating the lane in which he achieved that extraordinary result. Furthermore, the coin displays the time of 19″72 by which Pietro Mennea ran the 200 meters in Mexico City in 1979, achieving the world record that lasted for almost 17 years and has never been reached again on European level.
On the obverse side of the coin, the athletics track and the official logo of the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships, are represented. The Euro championships will take place at the Olympic Stadium and in the Foro Italico Park, from 7 to 12 June. The last edition of the Europeans was hosted in Italy in 1974 and Pietro Mennea was among the leaders, winning the gold medal in the 200 meters, placed second in the 100 meters final, and playing a decisive role in the 4×100 relay by winning the silver medal.
“The memory of Pietro Mennea is a beautiful manifesto to intensify the Italian athletics movement and the upcoming European Championships in Rome, which will take place fifty years after, where Pietro Mennea achieved the first important victory in his international career. Pietro Mennea was the best of all of us and I am really pleased that he has been chosen as testimonial of this event,” says Mr. Stefano Mei, President of the Italian Athletics Federation and EuroRoma 2024 Foundation.
