Both sides at a glance
Obverse (shown) — features prehistoric cave paintings of bison from the Cave of Altamira in Cantabria. Inscriptions: “ESPAÑA” at the top and year “2015” at the bottom. The crowned “M” mint mark is visible to the right of the inscription.
Reverse (standard EU side) — features the numeral “2 EURO” with the EU map and 12 stars.
The Cave of Altamira, located near Santillana del Mar in Cantabria, contains some of the finest examples of Upper Palaeolithic cave art in the world, dating back approximately 14,000–20,000 years. Discovered in 1879, it was one of the first sites where prehistoric cave paintings were identified. Together with other decorated caves in northern Spain and France, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. The bison depicted on the coin are among the most iconic images from the cave’s ceiling.