.- The Vatican Philatelic and Numismatic Office has published its 2009 program, which will include coins and stamps commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Vatican City State, the World Day of Peace and the 50th anniversary of Vatican II.
According to the L’Osservatore Romano, the Office will issue coins for the following occasions: a Commemorative Bimetallic Coin for the International Year of Astronomy; a Silver Celebrative Coin for 42nd World Day of Peace; a Silver Celebrative Coin for the 80th Anniversary of the Vatican City State; Commemorative Gold Coins depicting the masterpieces of sculpture in Vatican City “The Good Shepherd” and “The Laocoon”; and commemorative gold coins depicting the Sistine Chapel’s “Adam and Eve cast out of Eden.”
The stamps for 2009 will commemorate the following events: the 80th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Vatican City State; the Centenary of the Papal Biblical Institute; the World Day of Books and Copyrights; Europa 2009 – Astronomy; Bicentenary of the Birth of Louis Braille; the Fourth Centenary of the canonization of Saint Francis of Rome; The Journeys of Benedict XVI throughout the world - year 2008; Italia 2009 – International Philatelic Exhibition; 700th Anniversary of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Europe; the Bicentenary of the death of Franz Joseph Haydn; 250th anniversary of the death of Georg Friedrich Händel; the Bicentenary of the Birth of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy; the 50th Anniversary of the convocation of the Second Ecumenical Vatican Council; and Christmas 2009.
