Obverse (Image: Sammarinese coat-of-arms)
Reverse (Image: Crypt of Saint Marinus)
San Marino, the oldest republic in the world, covers an area of about 24 square miles, has an estimated population of a little more than 30,000 and is completely surrounded by Italy. From the 1860s until 2002, San Marino's currency was the lira, equivalent to the Italian lira. Since 2002, San Marino has the Euro, although it is not a member of the European Union.
The 10-lire coin has a depiction of the Sammarinese coat-of-arms on the obverse and one of the crypt of Saint Marinus, the founder of San Marino, on the reverse. The coat-of-arms consists of a shield with three towers on three peaks. The shield is flanked by a wreath, and a crown is on top. A scroll with the word "Libertas" (liberty) completes the coat-of-arms.
According to tradition, Saint Marinus escaped to Italy to avoid anti-Christian persecution. He then built a small church on Monte Titano (Mount Titan), the highest peak in what is now Saint Marino. The city state was officially founded on September 3rd in the year 301.
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