On the inner part of the coin is a free interpretation of the allegorical painting known as ‘la fisica antica’ or the study of the planets, depicting Galileo Galilei.

The year of mintage appears in the illustration on a desk underneath a globe.

To the left of the image is the mintmark ‘R’.

The engraver's initials ‘LDS’ appear on the right hand side. The word ‘San Marino’ forms a quasi-semicircle along the upper edge of the inner part, while the words ‘ANNO MONDIALE DELLA FISICA’ run along the lower edge of the inner part.

The twelve stars of the European Union are depicted on the outer ring.

Between the stars appear parts of a stylised atom which covers the entire coin.