2006 (VA) – 500th Anniversary of the Swiss Guard (Coincard)

The coin features a Swiss guard taking an oath of loyalty to the Pope. The inscription ‘GUARDIA SVIZZERA PONTIFICIA’ forms a semi-circle around the guard, while under the flag appears the name of the issuing state, ‘CITTÀ DEL VATICANO’. ‘1506’ appears on the left side, above the signature of the engraver ‘O. ROSSI’ along the flagpole. ‘2006’ appears on the right side, above the mint mark ‘R’. The 12 stars of the European Union are depicted on the outer ring.