Spanish commemorative 2 euro coins - Patio de los Leones of the Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzín, Granada
Second of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites series
Commemorative 2 euro coins from Spain
Reverse: left from the coin centre face value: 2, on the right inscription: EURO; in the background of the inscription a map of Europe; in the background of the map vertically six parallel lines ending on both sides with five-pointed stars (the reverse is common for all euro coins)
Number of coins to be issued: 8 million
Date of issue: March 2011
Face value: 2 euro
Diameter: 25.75 mm
Thickness: 2.2 mm
Weight: 8.5 gr
Composition: BiAlloy (Nk/Ng), ring Cupronickel (75% copper - 25% nickel clad on nickel core), center Nickel brass
€2 Edge Inscription: The Spainish €2 coin edge inscription is '2', followed by two stars, repeated six times alternately upright and inverted.
Mint Location: Fábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre (National Factory of Coins and Stamps), in Madrid, Spain.
Mint Marks: Mintmark of the Madrid mint: the letter 'M' under a crown.
Located at the lower left side, inner circle.
National Identification: Text: 'ESPAÑA'; Local short form of Spain.
Spanish UNESCO World Heritage Sites series:
Spain started the commemorative coin series Patrimonio de la Humanidad de la UNESCO (UNESCO World Heritage) in 2010, commemorating all of Spain's UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which could continue until 2050. The order in which the coin for a specific site is issued coincides with the order in which they were declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. The coins issued are: 2 euro 2010 Mosque-Cathedral, Historic Centre of Córdoba, 2 euro 2011 Patio de los Leones of the Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzín, Granada, 2 euro 2012 Burgos Cathedral, 2 euro 2013 Monastery and Site of the Escorial, Madrid, 2 euro 2014 Works of Antoni Gaudí, 2 euro 2015 Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain, 2 euro 2016 Old city of Segovia and its aqueduct.
Court of the Lions
The Courtyard of the Lions (Spanish: Patio de los Leones - Arabic: بهو السباع) is the main courtyard of the Nasrid dynasty Palace of the Lions, in the heart of the Alhambra, the Moorish citadel formed by a complex of palaces, gardens and forts in Granada, Spain. It was commissioned by the Nasrid sultan Muhammed V of the Emirate of Granada in Al-Andalus. Its construction started in the second period of his reign, between 1362 and 1391 AD.
The Courtyard of the Lions is an oblong courtyard, 35 m in length by 20 m in width, surrounded by a low gallery supported on 124 white marble columns. A pavilion projects into the courtyard at each extremity, with filigree walls and light domed roof, elaborately ornamented. The square is paved with coloured tiles, and the colonnade with white marble; while the walls are covered 1.5 m up from the ground with blue and yellow tiles, with a border above and below enamelled blue and gold. The columns supporting the roof and gallery are irregularly placed, with a view to artistic effect; and the general form of the piers, arches and pillars is most graceful. They are adorned by varieties of foliage, etc.; above each arch there is a large square of arabesques; and over the pillars is another square of filigree work. In the center of the courtyard is the celebrated Fountain of Lions, a magnificent alabaster basin supported by the figures of twelve lions in white marble. At present, the fountain is under restoration in an effort to preserve its integrity. The lions surrounding the basin have been temporarily removed for their accurate restoration, and a large wooden and glass structure has been erected around the fountain to shield it from the elements during the process.2 euro commemorative coin Spain 2011 Alhambra; Spanish commemorative coins 2011 uncirculated; 2 Euro Spain 2011 Alhambra commemorative coin;