Andorra 2026 2€ PAIR

MERITXELL'S NEW SANCTUARY

The commemorative 2-euro coin of Andorra marks the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of the New Sanctuary of Meritxell, one of the most important religious and cultural symbols of the Principality.

The design highlights the sanctuary's architecture, with its characteristic arches and the combination of traditional and modern elements. The number 50, accompanied by the word "ANIVERSARI" (anniversary) and the year "2026," takes center stage in the composition, while the inscription "SANTUARI NOU DE MERITXELL" (Meritxell's New Sanctuary) identifies the monument being honored.

Inaugurated on September 8, 1976, the sanctuary was designed by architect Ricardo Bofill after a fire destroyed much of the old church. The site houses the image of Our Lady of Meritxell, patron saint of Andorra, and represents an important symbol of national identity.

TRANSHUMANITY

This coin celebrates transhumance, an ancestral practice that is part of the history and rural traditions of Andorra.

In the center of the design appears a shepherd with his staff, accompanied by a dog and a sheep with a bell around its neck. In the background, the silhouettes of a horse and a cow are integrated into a mountainous Pyrenean landscape. The inscription "ANDORRA" accompanies the upper part of the composition, while the year "2026" appears next to the figure of the cow.

Transhumance consists of the seasonal movement of herds between pastures of different altitudes, following the changing seasons. This tradition reflects the centuries-old connection between local communities, livestock farming, and the Pyrenean landscape, and is recognized as intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO.