Euro Coins - a single unifying European currency

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On 1 January 2002 Euro coins and banknotes were introduced into circulation as a single European currency. The currency was designed and implemented to promote growth and economic stability throughout Europe. While banknotes are uniform, Euro coins showcase the individuality of the 12 nations and minor states which use the Euro as everyday currency.

Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and Finland are the 12 member states which use the euro as currency. Three minor states – Vatican City, Monaco, and the Republic of San Marino – also produce their own Euro coins. These coins can be used anywhere in the Euro area, regardless of their nation of origin. Since 1 January 1999 the Euro has been buying fixed rates against the national currencies which were phased out in the first couple of months of 2002.

Euro coins - diverse and collectable

The eight Euro coins – 1, 2, 5, 10, 50 and 50 cent and €1 and €2 – boast variations in size, colour and thickness for easy identification. The front of each coin is identical, showing a map of Europe surrounded by the 12 stars of the European Union. Designs on the reverse are what hold the interest of Euro coin collectors. Many commemorative Euro coins have been produced in gold since the currency’s introduction.

Euro coins go to show that the individuality of each member country is very prominent within the umbrella of one European currency. Given the opportunity to design the reverse to each Euro coin, the member states display different examples of European history, geography, and culture.

Countries with a sovereign ( Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Luxembourg) have used their portraits on some or all of the coins. Republics have taken creative license and used pictures from literature, mythology and art. Some have an identical picture on all eight coins, like the iconic harp of Ireland. Others boast different designs on all eight coins – in Italy’s case, chosen by phone-in poll on a popular TV show. Finnish Euro coins depict the lion, a design previously used on Finnish markka.

Security measures were an important component of designing Euro coins before production began in May 1998. The design of these coins is such that forgery should be extremely difficult, and bi-metal technology was used in the €1 and €2 coins to prevent successful counterfeiting.

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