Wednesday, 2 July 2014

Euro Coins 2014 Andora


Descriptions
Observe :
€2 and €1, 50, 20 and 10 cent show the European Union as of 1 January 2007, a geographical image of Europe.
5, 2 and 1 cent show Europe in relation to Africa and Asia on a globe.

Reverse :
1c, 2c & 5c – Pyrenean chamois ( Rupicapra pyrenaica ), a goat antelope that lives in the Pyrenees, Catabrian Mountains and Apennine Mountains.
10c, 20c & 50c – the Church of Santa Coloma and a depiction of Christ from the church  Sant Martí de la Cortinada.  ( the depiction of Christ may be removed due to the objection from the European Commission on the grounds of religious neutrality )
€1 - Casa de la Vall
€2 - Coat of arms of Andorra



Brief Introduction
Andorra, officially the Principality of Andorra, also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra, is a microstate in Southwestern Europe sandwiched between Spain and France at the Pyrenees mountains, having only an area of 468m2 and an estimated population of 85,000 in 2012.

Andorra was created under a charter in A.D.988.   The present Principality was formed in A.D.1278.  It is known as a principality as it is a monarchy headed by two Co-Princes – the Spanish/Roman Catholic Bishop of Urgell and the President of France.

Andorra did not have an official currency.  Prior to adopting the euro, Andorra used the French franc and Spanish peseta.  When the two currencies were replaced by the euro in 2002,  the euro became the de facto sole circulating currency in Andorra. 

However, Andorra is not a member of the European Union.  Yet, in 2011, a monetary agreement was sign between Andorra and the EU, allowing Andorra to mint euro coins from 2013.   As on 1 April 2012, the euro became Andorra’s official currency.

A design competition for the national side of the euro coins was launched in 2013.    The Andorra euro coins were supposed to be issued early 2014, but were delayed.


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