Euro Coins 2002-

Descriptions

Observe :

€2 and €1, 50c, 20c and 10c coins show either the EU15 before its enlargement on  May 2004 or, as of 1 January 2007, a geographical image of whole Europe.

5c, 2c and 1c coins depict the denomination, the words 'EURO CENT'.

Reverse :

The national sides show country-specific designs, surrounded by the 12 stars of the European Union.

Technical Specifications

  

Details

The euro was established by the provisions in the 1992 Maastricht Treaty.   The name “euro” created by Belgian Germain Pirlot, was officially adopted by European Council meeting in Madrid on 16^th December 1995.

The euro was launched on 1^st January 1999, but only as an invisible currency, used for accounting purposes.  Real euro coins and banknotes was introduced on 1^st January 2002.  The euro is managed and administered by the European Central Bank ( ECB ) and the Eurosystem,

The euro is the sole currency of 18 of the 28 EU member states, including the overseas territories and islands which are either part of, or associated with euro area countries. Andorra,  Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City, although are not the EU member states, also use and mint their own euro.  Kosovo and Montenegro use euro as their de facto currency, but are not authorised to mint their own coins.

The euro coin series comprises 8 different denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent, €1 and €2. The euro coins have a common side and a national side. The national side indicates the issuing country.

The euro currency sign ( € ) was created by Belgian Alain Billiet.  Inspiration for the symbol came from the Greek letter epsilon (Є) – a reference to the cradle of European civilization – and the first letter of the word ”Europe”, crossed by two parallel lines to ‘certify’ the stability of the euro.

The common sides of the coins were designed by Mr Luc Luycx of the Royal Belgian Mint. They show images of the European Union or of Europe and symbolise the unity of the EU.  The national sides show country-specific designs, surrounded by the 12 stars of the European Union.