Republic of San Marino, 20 Euro Cent 2008

The saint on this coin is San Marinus, the patron saint of the little country of San Marino. This microstate, an enclave of Italy, lies somewhat inland of the Adriatic coast near the old Italian beach town of Rimini.

The Sammarinese regard their state the oldest republic in the world, and trace its foundation back to Marinus. He was a Croatian stonecutter who had left his home in the 250s in search of work, and had landed in Rimini. From there he fled in 301 from the Roman persecutions of Christians to nearby Monte Titano, a mountain of some 740 meters above sea level. On its peak he founded a chapel that later developed into a monastery, and around which then grew the Republic of San Marino.