€2 commemorative coins
Encyclopedia
€2 commemorative coins are special euro coins
minted and issued by member states of the eurozone
since 2004 as legal tender
in all eurozone member states. The coins typically commemorate
the anniversaries of historical events or draw attention to current events of special importance. As of 2011, a hundred and four variations of €2 commemorative coins have been minted
– six in 2004, eight in 2005, seven in 2006, twenty in 2007 (including the thirteen versions of the common issue), ten in 2008, twenty-five in 2009 (including the sixteen versions of the common issue), twelve in 2010 and sixteen in 2011. The €2 commemorative coins have become collectible
s, but are different from commemorative coins with a face value higher than €2
, which are officially designated as "collector coins" and usually made of precious metals.
Only the country sides of the coins may be changed; the common side may not. In 2007 and 2009, all countries released common commemorative coins, though Cyprus
, Estonia
and Ireland
have not released any independently. Luxembourg
and Finland
are the only countries to have released commemorative coins every year. The number of commemorative coins is limited to one per country per year and to 5 percent of the total output. Limits on the designs are also in place to ensure uniformity.
, which allowed changing the national obverse
sides of euro coins from 1 January 2004 onwards. However, a number of recommendations and restrictions still apply.
Two restrictions concern the design. Euro coins must still have a common reverse side, so only the national obverse sides may be changed. Also, the standard national obverse sides per se should not be changed before 2008 at the earliest, unless the head of state
depicted on some of the coins changes before then. (This clause already came into effect for Monaco
and the Vatican City
, whose heads of state—Rainier III
and Pope John Paul II
respectively—died in 2005 and whose national obverse sides were changed for 2006.)
Further regulations restrict the frequency and number of commemorative coin issues. Each member state shall only issue one commemorative coin per year, and it shall only be denominated as a €2 coin. The total number of such coins put into circulation per year should not surpass the higher of the following two numbers:
Another decision added two more guidelines regarding the design of the coins. The state issuing a coin should in some way clearly be identified on the obverse side, either by stating the full name or a clearly identifiable abbreviation of it; and neither name nor the denomination of the coin should be repeated on the obverse, as it is already featured on the common reverse side.
These restrictions do not apply retroactively; only new designs—the national obverse sides for regular issues of states newly joining the euro or of eurozone states which change their design, and €2 commemorative coins issued from 2006 onwards—are subject to them. However, the five countries whose designs violated the first update to the rules (Austria
, Belgium
, Finland
, Germany
and Greece
) initially were assumed to have to change their design in the near future, which Finland
did for 2007 and Belgium
for 2008.
Another decision changed the rules again:
(These provisions forced Belgium to change its design back to show the original portrait of its monarch, because the 2008 update to follow the recommendations also updated the portrait, which was against the rules. The Belgian coins from 2009 onwards show the original royal portrait of 1999, but otherwise keep the new 2008 coin design as far as the country identification and year mark are concerned. These provisions additionally prohibit further sede vacante
sets of coins by the Vatican City, allowing only commemorative coins for such occasions.) Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain were the states which were in breach of these new guidelines. Spain updated their design from 2010 onwards to meet the new rules, leaving Austria, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Slovakia in breach of them.
The recommendation will be reviewed in 2015.
, Belgium
, Finland
, France
, Germany
, Greece
, Italy
, Luxembourg
, Malta
, Monaco
, the Netherlands
, Portugal
, San Marino
, Slovakia
, Slovenia
, Spain
and the Vatican City
), with Greece being the first country to issue this type of coin. Three eurozone countries have not yet independently issued such coins (Cyprus
, Estonia
and Ireland
); there have also been two common €2 commemorative coin issued by all eurozone member states (Treaty of Rome
in 2007, Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union
in 2009).
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Issued designs are made public in the Official Journal of the European Union
(references to these publications are given in the tables below).
started the commemorative coin series (The 16 States
of the Federal Republic of Germany) in 2006, which will continue until 2021. The year in which the coin for a specific state is issued coincides with that state's Presidency
of the Bundesrat
. The coins issued are:
The other ten coins will be issued in the following years; note that some designs are not yet finalised and still subject to change. Originally, the designs for the following states were different:
The series is similar to the United States
' 50 State Quarters
series, which saw fifty coins issued for its fifty constituent states, five per year between 1999 and 2008. A separate program saw six coins issued in 2009 for the District of Columbia and five territories of the United States.
The issued coin is:
The four coins to be issued in the following years are:
started the commemorative coin series (UNESCO World Heritage) in 2010, commemorating all of Spain's UNESCO World Heritage Sites
, which could continue until 2050. The order in which the coin for a specific site is issued coincides with the order in which they were declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. The coins issued are:
The coins planned to be issued in the coming years are:
Euro coins
There are eight euro coin denominations, ranging from one cent to two euros . The coins first came into use in 2002. They have a common reverse, portraying a map of Europe, but each country in the eurozone has its own design on the obverse, which means that each coin has a variety of different...
minted and issued by member states of the eurozone
Eurozone
The eurozone , officially called the euro area, is an economic and monetary union of seventeen European Union member states that have adopted the euro as their common currency and sole legal tender...
since 2004 as legal tender
Legal tender
Legal tender is a medium of payment allowed by law or recognized by a legal system to be valid for meeting a financial obligation. Paper currency is a common form of legal tender in many countries....
in all eurozone member states. The coins typically commemorate
Commemorative coin
Commemorative coins are coins that were issued to commemorate some particular event or issue. Most world commemorative coins were issued from the 1960s onward, although there are numerous examples of commemorative coins of earlier date. Such coins have a distinct design with reference to the...
the anniversaries of historical events or draw attention to current events of special importance. As of 2011, a hundred and four variations of €2 commemorative coins have been minted
Mint (coin)
A mint is an industrial facility which manufactures coins for currency.The history of mints correlates closely with the history of coins. One difference is that the history of the mint is usually closely tied to the political situation of an era...
– six in 2004, eight in 2005, seven in 2006, twenty in 2007 (including the thirteen versions of the common issue), ten in 2008, twenty-five in 2009 (including the sixteen versions of the common issue), twelve in 2010 and sixteen in 2011. The €2 commemorative coins have become collectible
Collectible
A collectable or collectible is any object regarded as being of value or interest to a collector . There are numerous types of collectables and terms to denote those types. An antique is a collectable that is old...
s, but are different from commemorative coins with a face value higher than €2
Euro gold and silver commemorative coins
This article covers the gold and silver issues of the euro commemorative coins . It also includes some rare cases of bimetal collector coins . See :€2 commemorative coins for circulating commemorative coins....
, which are officially designated as "collector coins" and usually made of precious metals.
Only the country sides of the coins may be changed; the common side may not. In 2007 and 2009, all countries released common commemorative coins, though Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
, Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
have not released any independently. Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
and Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
are the only countries to have released commemorative coins every year. The number of commemorative coins is limited to one per country per year and to 5 percent of the total output. Limits on the designs are also in place to ensure uniformity.
Regulations and restrictions
The basis for the commemorative coins is derived from a decision of the European CouncilEuropean Council
The European Council is an institution of the European Union. It comprises the heads of state or government of the EU member states, along with the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Council, currently Herman Van Rompuy...
, which allowed changing the national obverse
Obverse and reverse
Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse...
sides of euro coins from 1 January 2004 onwards. However, a number of recommendations and restrictions still apply.
Two restrictions concern the design. Euro coins must still have a common reverse side, so only the national obverse sides may be changed. Also, the standard national obverse sides per se should not be changed before 2008 at the earliest, unless the head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
depicted on some of the coins changes before then. (This clause already came into effect for Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
and the Vatican City
Vatican City
Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
, whose heads of state—Rainier III
Rainier III, Prince of Monaco
Rainier III, Prince of Monaco , styled His Serene Highness The Sovereign Prince of Monaco, ruled the Principality of Monaco for almost 56 years, making him one of the longest ruling monarchs of the 20th century.Though he was best known outside of Europe for having married American...
and Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
respectively—died in 2005 and whose national obverse sides were changed for 2006.)
Further regulations restrict the frequency and number of commemorative coin issues. Each member state shall only issue one commemorative coin per year, and it shall only be denominated as a €2 coin. The total number of such coins put into circulation per year should not surpass the higher of the following two numbers:
- 0.1 % of the total number of €2 coins put into circulation by all members of the eurozone. This limit can exceptionally be increased to up to 2.0 per cent if the coin commemorates a very important and noteworthy event; in this case, the member state issuing this higher number of coins should refrain from putting any commemorative coins into circulation for the following four years.
- 5.0 % of the total number of €2 coins put into circulation by the member state issuing the €2 commemorative coin.
Another decision added two more guidelines regarding the design of the coins. The state issuing a coin should in some way clearly be identified on the obverse side, either by stating the full name or a clearly identifiable abbreviation of it; and neither name nor the denomination of the coin should be repeated on the obverse, as it is already featured on the common reverse side.
These restrictions do not apply retroactively; only new designs—the national obverse sides for regular issues of states newly joining the euro or of eurozone states which change their design, and €2 commemorative coins issued from 2006 onwards—are subject to them. However, the five countries whose designs violated the first update to the rules (Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
) initially were assumed to have to change their design in the near future, which Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
did for 2007 and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
for 2008.
Another decision changed the rules again:
- The twelve stars of the European UnionEuropean UnionThe European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
surrounding the coin designs need to surround all of the coin design elements, including year marks, mint marks and the name of the country. The stars have to appear in the same way as they are aligned on the flag of the European Union. (These recommendations are not currently fulfilled by the Dutch, Italian and Luxembourgish coins.) - The design of euro coins may not be changed except for two specific circumstances:
- If a coin design is in violation of the recommendations, it may be updated to bring it into line with them. (This applies to Austria, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.)
- If a coin design depicts a head of state, it may be updated:
-
-
- every fifteen years to bring it into line with the head of state's current appearance;
- if the head of state abdicates or dies. However, temporary heads of state may not be used as a reason for changing the design; instead a €2 commemorative coin (potentially a second €2 commemorative coin) will be allowed to be issued.
- The edge lettering of commemorative coins has to be the same as the one on the regular coins.
-
(These provisions forced Belgium to change its design back to show the original portrait of its monarch, because the 2008 update to follow the recommendations also updated the portrait, which was against the rules. The Belgian coins from 2009 onwards show the original royal portrait of 1999, but otherwise keep the new 2008 coin design as far as the country identification and year mark are concerned. These provisions additionally prohibit further sede vacante
Sede vacante
Sede vacante is an expression, used in the Canon Law of the Catholic Church, that refers to the vacancy of the episcopal see of a particular church...
sets of coins by the Vatican City, allowing only commemorative coins for such occasions.) Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain were the states which were in breach of these new guidelines. Spain updated their design from 2010 onwards to meet the new rules, leaving Austria, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Slovakia in breach of them.
The recommendation will be reviewed in 2015.
Issues
As of January 2011, seventeen countries have independently issued €2 commemorative coins (AustriaAustria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, San Marino
San Marino
San Marino, officially the Republic of San Marino , is a state situated on the Italian Peninsula on the eastern side of the Apennine Mountains. It is an enclave surrounded by Italy. Its size is just over with an estimated population of over 30,000. Its capital is the City of San Marino...
, Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
, Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and the Vatican City
Vatican City
Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
), with Greece being the first country to issue this type of coin. Three eurozone countries have not yet independently issued such coins (Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
, Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
and Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
); there have also been two common €2 commemorative coin issued by all eurozone member states (Treaty of Rome
Treaty of Rome
The Treaty of Rome, officially the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, was an international agreement that led to the founding of the European Economic Community on 1 January 1958. It was signed on 25 March 1957 by Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany...
in 2007, Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union
Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union
The Economic and Monetary Union is an umbrella term for the group of policies aimed at converging the economies of members of the European Union in three stages so as to allow them to adopt a single currency, the euro. As such, it is largely synonymous with the eurozone.All member states of the...
in 2009).
| Country | | Issues | | 2004 | | 2005 | | 2006 | | 2007 | | 2008 | | 2009 | | 2010 | | 2011 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| reg. | ToR Treaty of Rome The Treaty of Rome, officially the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, was an international agreement that led to the founding of the European Economic Community on 1 January 1958. It was signed on 25 March 1957 by Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany... | reg. | euro Introduction of the euro The euro came into existence on 1 January 1999, although it has been a goal of the European Union and its predecessors since the 1960s. After tough negotiations, particularly due to opposition from the United Kingdom, the Maastricht Treaty entered into force in 1993 with the goal of creating... |
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Issued designs are made public in the Official Journal of the European Union
Official Journal of the European Union
The Official Journal of the European Union is the official gazette of record for the European Union . It is published every working day in all of the official languages of the member states. Only legal acts published in the Official Journal are binding.It was first published on 30 December 1952 as...
(references to these publications are given in the tables below).
2004 coinage
| Image | Country | Feature | Volume | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Olympics 2004 Summer Olympics The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team... in Athens Athens Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state... 2004 |
50 million coins | 14 March 2004 | ||
| Description: The Discobolus Discobolus The Discobolus of Myron is a famous Greek sculpture that was completed towards the end of the Severe period, circa 460-450 BC. The original Greek bronze is lost... (a classical Greek Greece Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe.... sculpture by Myron Myron Myron of Eleutherae working circa 480-440 BC, was an Athenian sculptor from the mid-5th century BC. He was born in Eleutherae on the borders of Boeotia and Attica. According to Pliny's Natural History, Ageladas of Argos was his teacher.... ) is depicted in the centre of the coin. To the left of it is the logo of the Olympic games (ATHENS 2004) and the five Olympic Rings Olympic symbols The Olympic symbols are icons, flags and symbols used by the International Olympic Committee to promote the Olympic Games. Some—such as the flame, fanfare, and theme—are more common during Olympic competition, but others, such as the flag, can be seen throughout the year.-Motto:The Olympic motto is... , while to the right the denomination of the coin is given in Greek (). The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design. The year mark is split around the star in the bottom centre (20*04), and the mint mark Mint mark A mint mark is an inscription on a coin indicating the mint where the coin was produced.-History:Mint marks were first developed to locate a problem. If a coin was underweight, or overweight, the mint mark would immediately tell where the coin was minted, and the problem could be located and fixed... is to the upper left of the statue's head. |
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| Fifth Enlargement of the European Union European Union The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958... in 2004 |
1 million coins | FDI: 1 June 2004 FDC: 1 July 2004 |
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| Description: The coin's design resembles a stylised pillar Column A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a vertical structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. For the purpose of wind or earthquake engineering, columns may be designed to resist lateral forces... from which ten sprouts Shoot Shoots are new plant growth, they can include stems, flowering stems with flower buds, and leaves. The new growth from seed germination that grows upward is a shoot where leaves will develop... grow upwards. This is a metaphor Metaphor A metaphor is a literary figure of speech that uses an image, story or tangible thing to represent a less tangible thing or some intangible quality or idea; e.g., "Her eyes were glistening jewels." Metaphor may also be used for any rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via... ical theme: The ten sprouts represent the growth of the European Union (i.e., the 2004 enlargement which added ten new member states), while the pillar represents the foundation for the growth. Near the bottom of the coin, below the pillar, the word EU is written, and together with the right side of the pillar, representing the Greek small letter "ρ" (rho) Rho (letter) Rho is the 17th letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals, it has a value of 100. It is derived from Semitic resh "head"... , it reads "euro". The twelve stars of the European Union adorn the outer ring together with the year mark, which is at the top of the ring. |
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| Effigy Effigy An effigy is a representation of a person, especially in the form of sculpture or some other three-dimensional form.The term is usually associated with full-length figures of a deceased person depicted in stone or wood on church monuments. These most often lie supine with hands together in prayer,... and Monogram Monogram A monogram is a motif made by overlapping or combining two or more letters or other graphemes to form one symbol. Monograms are often made by combining the initials of an individual or a company, used as recognizable symbols or logos. A series of uncombined initials is properly referred to as a... of Grand Duke Henri Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg OIH is the head of state of Luxembourg. He is the eldest son of Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg and Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium. His maternal grandparents were King Leopold III of Belgium and Astrid of Sweden... |
2.49 million coins | 23 June 2004 | ||
| Description: On the left side of the centre part of the coin, the effigy of Grand Duke Henri is depicted, looking to the right. The right side displays his monogram (the letter H topped with a crown). The twelve stars of the European Union are also on the right side of the inner part, surrounding the monogram in a semicircular form. The year mark, the mint mark and the engraver Engraving Engraving is the practice of incising a design on to a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an intaglio printing plate, of copper or another metal, for printing... 's initials are written in circular shape at the top of the outer ring, together with the word ("Luxembourg" in Luxembourgish Luxembourgish language Luxembourgish is a High German language spoken mainly in Luxembourg. About 320,000 people worldwide speak Luxembourgish.-Language family:... ), while the words appear at the bottom of the ring. |
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| Fifth Decade of the World Food Programme World Food Programme The World Food Programme is the food aid branch of the United Nations, and the world's largest humanitarian organization addressing hunger worldwide. WFP provides food, on average, to 90 million people per year, 58 million of whom are children... |
16 million coins | 15 December 2004 | ||
| Description: In the centre of the coin is a globe Globe A globe is a three-dimensional scale model of Earth or other spheroid celestial body such as a planet, star, or moon... , tilted to the right. Three ears Cereal Cereals are grasses cultivated for the edible components of their grain , composed of the endosperm, germ, and bran... emerge from behind the globe, reaching out to cross the outer ring; these are maize Maize Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable... , rice Rice Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies... and wheat Wheat Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice... , representing the world's basic sources of nourishment Nutrition Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet.... . The letters R and I, superimposed over one another, are to the right of the globe (representing Repubblica Italiana Italy Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... ), and below them are the engraver Engraving Engraving is the practice of incising a design on to a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an intaglio printing plate, of copper or another metal, for printing... 's (Uliana Pernazza) initials (a combination of the letters U and P). The mint mark (R) is to the upper left of the globe, the year mark is below it, and the twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring, grouped into three batches of four stars each, separated by the three ears. |
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| Bartolomeo Borghesi Bartolomeo Borghesi Bartolomeo Borghesi was an Italian antiquarian who was a key figure in establishing the science of numismatics.... |
110,000 coins | 15 December 2004 | ||
| Description: The central piece of this coin is a bust Bust (sculpture) A bust is a sculpted or cast representation of the upper part of the human figure, depicting a person's head and neck, as well as a variable portion of the chest and shoulders. The piece is normally supported by a plinth. These forms recreate the likeness of an individual... of the famous historian Historian A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is... and numismatist Numismatics Numismatics is the study or collection of currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, and related objects. While numismatists are often characterized as students or collectors of coins, the discipline also includes the broader study of money and other payment media used to resolve debts and the... Bartolomeo Borghesi Bartolomeo Borghesi Bartolomeo Borghesi was an Italian antiquarian who was a key figure in establishing the science of numismatics.... . It is surrounded by numerous inscriptions in the centre of the coin: SAN MARINO to the right of the bust, BARTOLOMEO BORGHESI, the mint mark (R) and the engraver Engraving Engraving is the practice of incising a design on to a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an intaglio printing plate, of copper or another metal, for printing... 's initials (E.L.F.) to the left of it. On the outer ring, the coin displays the twelve stars of the European Union and the year mark (bottom centre). |
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| 75th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Vatican City State Lateran treaties The Lateran Treaty is one of the Lateran Pacts of 1929 or Lateran Accords, three agreements made in 1929 between the Kingdom of Italy and the Holy See, ratified June 7, 1929, ending the "Roman Question"... |
85,000 coins | 15 December 2004 | ||
| Description: The central part of the coin depicts a schematic representation of the perimeter walls of the Vatican City with St. Peter's Basilica St. Peter's Basilica The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter , officially known in Italian as ' and commonly known as Saint Peter's Basilica, is a Late Renaissance church located within the Vatican City. Saint Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world... in the foreground, together with the inscriptions (to the left), 1929–2004 and the mint mark (R) (both to the right). In addition to these, the name of the designer (VEROI) and the initials of the engraver (L.D.S. INC.) are written in the lower right in smaller print. The outer ring is adorned by the twelve stars of the European Union and the inscription . |
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2005 coinage
| Image | Country | Feature | Volume | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50th Birthday Birthday A birthday is a day or anniversary where a person celebrates his or her date of birth. Birthdays are celebrated in numerous cultures, often with a gift, party or rite of passage. Although the major religions celebrate the birth of their founders , Christmas – which is celebrated widely by... of Grand Duke Henri Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg OIH is the head of state of Luxembourg. He is the eldest son of Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg and Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium. His maternal grandparents were King Leopold III of Belgium and Astrid of Sweden... , 5th Anniversary of his Accession to the Throne and 100th Anniversary Anniversary An anniversary is a day that commemorates or celebrates a past event that occurred on the same day of the year as the initial event. For example, the first event is the initial occurrence or, if planned, the inaugural of the event. One year later would be the first anniversary of that event... of the Death Death Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury.... of Grand Duke Adolphe Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg Adolphe I, Grand Duke of Luxembourg was the last Duke of Nassau, and the fourth Grand Duke of Luxembourg.-Biography:... |
2.8 million coins | 15 January 2005 | ||
| Description: In the centre of the coin, the effigies of the Grand Dukes Henri and Adolphe are displayed, both looking to the right, with Henri's superimposed on Adolphe's. The inscription appears above the effigies, while the inscriptions HENRI *1955 and ADOLPHE †1905 are written below the respective effigies. The outer ring of the coin contains the twelve stars of the European Union, placed between the letters of the word and the year mark, which is centred below the effigies positioned between S (for Suomi Finland Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside... ) on the left and the mint mark on the right. |
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| Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union The Belgium–Luxembourg Economic Union , abbreviated to BLEU or UEBL, is an economic and monetary union between Belgium and Luxembourg, two countries in the Benelux economic union.... |
6 million coins | FDI: 1 March 2005 FDC: 1 April 2005 |
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| Description: In the centre of the coin, the effigies Effigy An effigy is a representation of a person, especially in the form of sculpture or some other three-dimensional form.The term is usually associated with full-length figures of a deceased person depicted in stone or wood on church monuments. These most often lie supine with hands together in prayer,... of Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg OIH is the head of state of Luxembourg. He is the eldest son of Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg and Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium. His maternal grandparents were King Leopold III of Belgium and Astrid of Sweden... and King Albert II of the Belgians Albert II of Belgium Albert II is the current reigning King of the Belgians, a constitutional monarch. He is a member of the royal house "of Belgium"; formerly this house was named Saxe-Coburg-Gotha... are depicted, looking left. The engraver's initials (LL) are in the lower right, while the year mark is below the effigies. On the outer circle, the twelve stars of the European Union are displayed, along with the mint mark on the bottom, the monogram of Grand-Duke Henri to the left and the monogram of King Albert II to the right. |
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| 4th Centenary of the first edition Edition In printmaking, an edition is a number of prints struck from one plate, usually at the same time. This is the meaning covered by this article... of Miguel de Cervantes Miguel de Cervantes Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra was a Spanish novelist, poet, and playwright. His magnum opus, Don Quixote, considered the first modern novel, is a classic of Western literature, and is regarded amongst the best works of fiction ever written... ' El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha |
8 million coins | 1 April 2005 | ||
| Description: The centre of the coin displays Don Quixote holding a lance Lance A Lance is a pole weapon or spear designed to be used by a mounted warrior. The lance is longer, stout and heavier than an infantry spear, and unsuited for throwing, or for rapid thrusting. Lances did not have tips designed to intentionally break off or bend, unlike many throwing weapons of the... , with the windmill Windmill A windmill is a machine which converts the energy of wind into rotational energy by means of vanes called sails or blades. Originally windmills were developed for milling grain for food production. In the course of history the windmill was adapted to many other industrial uses. An important... s from one of his most well-known escapades in the background. The inscription is impressed into the surface of the coin to the left of the image, with the mint mark (an M topped by a crown Crown (headgear) A crown is the traditional symbolic form of headgear worn by a monarch or by a deity, for whom the crown traditionally represents power, legitimacy, immortality, righteousness, victory, triumph, resurrection, honour and glory of life after death. In art, the crown may be shown being offered to... ) below. The twelve stars of the European Union are placed on the outer ring, with the four on the right side impressed into the surface of the coin, as well, and the year mark placed between three of the stars (*20*05*) at the bottom. |
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| 50th Anniversary of the Austrian State Treaty Austrian State Treaty The Austrian State Treaty or Austrian Independence Treaty re-established Austria as a sovereign state. It was signed on May 15, 1955, in Vienna at the Schloss Belvedere among the Allied occupying powers and the Austrian government... |
7 million coins | 11 May 2005 | ||
| Description: In the centre of the coin is a depiction of the seals and signatures of the Austrian State Treaty, signed by the foreign minister Foreign minister A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in... s of the Allied occupying forces Allies of World War II The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states... (Vyacheslav Molotov Vyacheslav Molotov Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Molotov was a Soviet politician and diplomat, an Old Bolshevik and a leading figure in the Soviet government from the 1920s, when he rose to power as a protégé of Joseph Stalin, to 1957, when he was dismissed from the Presidium of the Central Committee by Nikita Khrushchev... for the Soviet Union Soviet Union The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991.... , John Foster Dulles John Foster Dulles John Foster Dulles served as U.S. Secretary of State under President Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1953 to 1959. He was a significant figure in the early Cold War era, advocating an aggressive stance against communism throughout the world... for the United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... , Harold Macmillan Harold Macmillan Maurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, OM, PC was Conservative Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 10 January 1957 to 18 October 1963.... for the United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... and Antoine Pinay Antoine Pinay Antoine Pinay |Rhône]], France – 13 December 1994) was a French conservative politician. He served as Prime Minister of France in 1952.-Life:As a young man, Pinay fought in World War I and injured his arm so that it was paralyzed for the rest of his life.... for France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... ), the High Commissioner High Commissioner High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:... s of the four sectors, as well as the Foreign Minister of Austria Foreign Minister of Austria The Foreign Minister of Austria is responsible for handling Austria's foreign policy.-Under the First Austrian Republic:* Victor Adler* Otto Bauer* Karl Renner* Michael Mayr* Johann Schober* Walter Breisky* Leopold Hennet* Alfred Grünberger... (Leopold Figl Leopold Figl Leopold Figl was an Austrian politician of the Austrian People's Party and the first Federal Chancellor after World War II... ) on 15 May 1955. The inscription is above the seals, while the year mark is below it; in the background, vertical stripes Gules In heraldry, gules is the tincture with the colour red, and belongs to the class of dark tinctures called "colours". In engraving, it is sometimes depicted as a region of vertical lines or else marked with gu. as an abbreviation.... serve as a heraldic Heraldry Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"... depiction of Austria's national flag Flag of Austria The flag of Austria has three equal horizontal bands of red , white, and red.The Austrian triband is the second-oldest flag in use at least since 1230, after the Danish flag .- Origins :... (red Red Red is any of a number of similar colors evoked by light consisting predominantly of the longest wavelengths of light discernible by the human eye, in the wavelength range of roughly 630–740 nm. Longer wavelengths than this are called infrared , and cannot be seen by the naked eye... -white White White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be... -red). The outer ring contains the twelve stars of the European Union. |
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| World Year of Physics 2005 World Year of Physics 2005 The year 2005 has been named the World Year of Physics in recognition of the 100th anniversary of Albert Einstein's "Miracle Year," in which he published four landmark papers, and the subsequent advances in the field of physics.-History:... |
130,000 coins | 14 October 2005 | ||
| Description: The centre of the coin contains a free interpretation Interpretation (aesthetics) An interpretation in philosophy of art, is an explanation of the meaning of some work of art. An interpretation expresses an understanding of a work of art, a poem, performance, or piece of literature.- One or many :... of the allegorical Allegory Allegory is a demonstrative form of representation explaining meaning other than the words that are spoken. Allegory communicates its message by means of symbolic figures, actions or symbolic representation... painting of Galileo Galilei Galileo Galilei Galileo Galilei , was an Italian physicist, mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher who played a major role in the Scientific Revolution. His achievements include improvements to the telescope and consequent astronomical observations and support for Copernicanism... known as La fisica antica or The Study of the Planets. The year mark is inscribed below a globe Globe A globe is a three-dimensional scale model of Earth or other spheroid celestial body such as a planet, star, or moon... standing on a desk Desk A desk is a furniture form and a class of table often used in a work or office setting for reading or writing on or using a computer. Desks often have one or more drawers to store office supplies and papers. Unlike a regular table, usually only one side of a desk is suitable to sit on . Not all... . The mint mark (R) is to the left of the image, while the engraver’s initials (LDS) appear on the right. The inscription SAN MARINO is aligned in a semicircle Semicircle In mathematics , a semicircle is a two-dimensional geometric shape that forms half of a circle. Being half of a circle's 360°, the arc of a semicircle always measures 180° or a half turn... above the image, while the inscription forms another semicircle below it. The outer ring bears the twelve stars of the European Union which are separated by the outer edges of a stylised atom depicted in the background of the entire coin. |
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| 60th Anniversary of the Establishment of the United Nations United Nations The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace... and 50th Anniversary of Finland's UN Membership |
2 million coins | 25 October 2005 | ||
| Description: The centre of the coin contains part of a jigsaw puzzle Jigsaw puzzle A jigsaw puzzle is a tiling puzzle that requires the assembly of numerous small, often oddly shaped, interlocking and tessellating pieces.Each piece usually has a small part of a picture on it; when complete, a jigsaw puzzle produces a complete picture... showing a dove of peace Peace symbol A number of peace symbols have been used in various cultures and contexts, one of the most ancient being the olive branch. The dove and olive branch was used by early Christians and was later adopted as a secular symbol. It was popularised by Pablo Picasso in 1949 and became widely used in the... . On the bottom of the centre part, the inscription FINLAND – UN and the year mark is displayed; the artist's initial (K) appears above the last digit of the year mark, while the mint mark (M) is between the inscription and the dove. The twelve stars of the European Union adorn the outer ring. |
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| 1st Anniversary of the Signing of the European Constitution | 18 million coins | 29 October 2005 | ||
| Description: The centre of the coin features Europa Europa (mythology) In Greek mythology Europa was a Phoenician woman of high lineage, from whom the name of the continent Europe has ultimately been taken. The name Europa occurs in Hesiod's long list of daughters of primordial Oceanus and Tethys... and the bull (Zeus Zeus In the ancient Greek religion, Zeus was the "Father of Gods and men" who ruled the Olympians of Mount Olympus as a father ruled the family. He was the god of sky and thunder in Greek mythology. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter and his Etruscan counterpart is Tinia.Zeus was the child of Cronus... ), together with the European Constitution; Europa is holding a pen over it, symbolising its signing. The mint mark (R) is to the upper left of the image, the engraver's (Maria Carmela Colaneri) initials (MCC) to the lower left, and the year mark is to the upper right. The monogram Monogram A monogram is a motif made by overlapping or combining two or more letters or other graphemes to form one symbol. Monograms are often made by combining the initials of an individual or a company, used as recognizable symbols or logos. A series of uncombined initials is properly referred to as a... of the Italian Republic (RI) is at the bottom of the centre part, slightly to the left. The outer ring features the inscription , forming almost a full semicircle Semicircle In mathematics , a semicircle is a two-dimensional geometric shape that forms half of a circle. Being half of a circle's 360°, the arc of a semicircle always measures 180° or a half turn... , while the remainder of the outer ring is taken up by the twelve stars of the European Union. |
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| 20th World Youth Day World Youth Day 2005 The 20th World Youth Day 2005 was a Catholic youth festival that started on August 16 and continued until August 21, 2005 in Cologne, Germany. It was the first World Youth Day and foreign trip of Pope Benedict XVI, who joined the festival on August 18. This meeting was decided by the previous... , held in Cologne Cologne Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the... in August 2005 |
100,000 coins | 6 December 2005 | ||
| Description: The centre of the coin contains the Cologne Cathedral Cologne Cathedral Cologne Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church in Cologne, Germany. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne and the administration of the Archdiocese of Cologne. It is renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture and is a World Heritage Site... and a comet Comet A comet is an icy small Solar System body that, when close enough to the Sun, displays a visible coma and sometimes also a tail. These phenomena are both due to the effects of solar radiation and the solar wind upon the nucleus of the comet... passing by above it. The inscription is written in the upper part of the centre, separated by the tail of the comet and two of the cathedral Cathedral A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop... 's spire Spire A spire is a tapering conical or pyramidal structure on the top of a building, particularly a church tower. Etymologically, the word is derived from the Old English word spir, meaning a sprout, shoot, or stalk of grass.... s, one of which extends into the outer ring. The outer ring contains the inscription in the lower half and the twelve stars of the European Union in the upper half, with the year mark and the mint mark (R) separating them in the top centre. |
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2006 coinage
| Image | Country | Feature | Volume | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Winter Olympics 2006 Winter Olympics The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter... in Turin Turin Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat... 2006 |
40 million coins | FDI: 10 January 2006 FDC: 10 February 2006 |
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| Description: The coin depicts a racing skier and the visitor attraction of Turin, the Mole Antonelliana Mole Antonelliana The Mole Antonelliana is a major landmark of the Italian city of Turin. It is named for the architect who built it, Alessandro Antonelli. In Italian "Mole" indicates a building of monumental proportions. Construction began in 1863, soon after Italian unification and was completed 26 years later,... (which incidentally is also depicted on the Italian 2 cent coin Italian euro coins Italian euro coins have a design unique to each denomination, though there is a common theme of famous Italian works of art from one of Italy's renowned artists... ), together with a large number of inscriptions: above the skier's head, ("Winter Games"); below the tower, the name of the host city ; beside the skier's right thigh, the engraver's initials (MCC); also to the right of the skier, the year mark (written vertically); and finally, to the right of the tower, the monogram of the Italian Republic (RI) and the mint mark (R). The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. |
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| 25th Birthday Birthday A birthday is a day or anniversary where a person celebrates his or her date of birth. Birthdays are celebrated in numerous cultures, often with a gift, party or rite of passage. Although the major religions celebrate the birth of their founders , Christmas – which is celebrated widely by... of Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg has been heir apparent to the crown of Luxembourg since his father's accession in 2000.-Early life and education:... |
1.1 million coins | 11 January 2006 | ||
| Description: The coin depicts the effigy of Grand Duke Henri on the right side of the inner part, superimposed on the effigy of Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume on the left side; both are looking to the right. The year mark appears below the effigies, flanked by the letter S and the mint mark. The inscription appears above the effigies along the upper edge of the inner part of the coin. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. | ||||
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Holstentor Holstentor The Holsten Gate is a city gate marking off the western boundary of the old center of the Hanseatic city of Lübeck. This Brick Gothic construction is one of the relics of Lübeck’s medieval city fortifications and the only remaining city gate, except for the Citadel Gate... in Lübeck Lübeck The Hanseatic City of Lübeck is the second-largest city in Schleswig-Holstein, in northern Germany, and one of the major ports of Germany. It was for several centuries the "capital" of the Hanseatic League and, because of its Brick Gothic architectural heritage, is listed by UNESCO as a World... (Schleswig-Holstein Schleswig-Holstein Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schleswig... ) First of the Bundesländer series |
30 million coins | 3 February 2006 | |
| Description: The coin shows the Holstentor in Lübeck in the centre part, with the inscription below the gate at the bottom of the centre part. The mint mark is to the left, while the designer's initials (HH) are to the right. The inscription is written in a semicircle in the lower part of the outer ring, and the year mark at the top; the twelve stars of the European Union are positioned between the year mark and the inscription at the bottom, in two groups of six stars each. | ||||
| Renovation Renovation Renovation is the process of improving a structure. Two prominent types of renovations are commercial and residential.-Process:The process of a renovation, however complex, can usually be broken down into several processes... of the Atomium Atomium The Atomium is a monument in Brussels, originally built for Expo '58, the 1958 Brussels World's Fair. Designed by André Waterkeyn, it stands 102 metres tall... in Brussels Brussels Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union... |
5 million coins | 10 April 2006 | ||
| Description: The coin shows the Atomium in the centre part, with the mint marks to the lower right and left of it. The designer's initials (LL) are to the left. The letter B for Belgium is written at the top of the outer ring, and the year mark at the bottom; the twelve stars of the European Union are positioned between the year mark and the inscription at the top, in two groups of six stars each. | ||||
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1st Centenary of the Introduction of Universal and Equal Suffrage Suffrage Suffrage, political franchise, or simply the franchise, distinct from mere voting rights, is the civil right to vote gained through the democratic process... |
2.5 million coins | 4 October 2006 | |
| Description: The coin shows two stylised faces in the centre part, one male and the other female; they are separated by a thin curved line. Two capital M's appear to the left of each face, one of them the mint mark and the other one the artist's initial. On the left side, the date of the introduction of universal and equal suffrage in Finland (1. 10. 1906) is inscribed, while the right side of the coin contains the year mark and the country abbreviation (20 FI 06). The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. | ||||
| 500th Anniversary of the Death of Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the... |
120,000 coins | 17 October 2006 | ||
| Description: A portrait of Christopher Columbus (looking to the right) before a background of the three caravel Caravel A caravel is a small, highly maneuverable sailing ship developed in the 15th century by the Portuguese to explore along the West African coast and into the Atlantic Ocean. The lateen sails gave her speed and the capacity for sailing to windward... s (the Niña Niña La Niña was one of the three ships used by Christopher Columbus in his first voyage towards the Indies in 1492. The real name of the Niña was Santa Clara. The name Niña was probably a pun on the name of her owner, Juan Niño of Moguer... , the Pinta and the Santa María Santa María (ship) La Santa María de la Inmaculada Concepción , was the largest of the three ships used by Christopher Columbus in his first voyage. Her master and owner was Juan de la Cosa.-History:... ), which he used in his first voyage across the Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area... in 1492, forms the central part of the coin's design. At the top of the inner part is the inscription SAN MARINO together with a compass rose Compass rose A compass rose, sometimes called a windrose, is a figure on a compass, map, nautical chart or monument used to display the orientation of the cardinal directions — North, East, South and West - and their intermediate points. It is also the term for the graduated markings found on the traditional... , in the centre is the mint mark R, and at the bottom is a cartouche Cartouche In Egyptian hieroglyphs, a cartouche is an ellipse with a horizontal line at one end, indicating that the text enclosed is a royal name, coming into use during the beginning of the Fourth Dynasty under Pharaoh Sneferu, replacing the earlier serekh... containing the inscription 1506–2006 and the initials of the designer (LDS). The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. |
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| 500th Anniversary of the Swiss Guard Swiss Guard Swiss Guards or Schweizergarde is the name given to the Swiss soldiers who have served as bodyguards, ceremonial guards, and palace guards at foreign European courts since the late 15th century. They have had a high reputation for discipline, as well as loyalty to their employers... |
100,000 coins | 9 November 2006 | ||
| Description: The centre part of the coin features a member of the Swiss Guard taking his oath on the flag of the Swiss Guard, facing the right side. In the top part of the inner circle, the inscription GUARDIA SVIZZERA PONTIFICIA surrounds the guard, while the bottom part carries the inscription CITTÁ DEL VATICANO. The guard is surrounded by four other inscriptions, with the year 1506 and the signature of the designer O. ROSSI to his left and the year mark 2006 and the mint mark R to his right. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. | ||||
2007 coinage
| Image | Country | Feature | Volume | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Schwerin Schwerin Schwerin is the capital and second-largest city of the northern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The population, as of end of 2009, was 95,041.-History:... Castle Schwerin Castle Schwerin Castle is a castle located in the city of Schwerin, the capital of the Bundesland of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. For centuries it was the home of the dukes and grand dukes of Mecklenburg and later Mecklenburg-Schwerin. It currently serves as the seat of the state... (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) Second of the Bundesländer series |
30 million coins | 2 February 2007 | |
| Description: The centre part of the coin shows a representation of Schwerin Castle Schwerin Castle Schwerin Castle is a castle located in the city of Schwerin, the capital of the Bundesland of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. For centuries it was the home of the dukes and grand dukes of Mecklenburg and later Mecklenburg-Schwerin. It currently serves as the seat of the state... . The inscription and the engraver's initials HH appear underneath while the mint mark appears above. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin, with the year mark inscribed at the top of the outer ring. |
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| Grand Ducal Palace Grand Ducal Palace, Luxembourg The Grand Ducal Palace is a palace in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. It is the official residence of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and where he performs most of his duties as head of state of the Grand Duchy.-History:... |
1.1 million coins | 2 February 2007 | ||
| Description: The inner part of the coin design is divided into two halves: The right side shows Grand Duke Henri (looking to the left), while the Grand Ducal Palace is shown on the left side. Between the Grand Ducal Palace and the outer ring of the coin, the year mark is inscribed vertically, with the engraver's initials above and the mint mark below. The inscription appears superimposed on the two elements of the main design of the coin. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. | ||||
| 80th Birthday of Pope Benedict XVI Pope Benedict XVI Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See... |
100,000 coins | FDI: 16 April 2007 FDC: 1 October 2007 |
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| Description: The inner part of the coin features a bust of Pope Benedict XVI in profile facing to the left. The legend is engraved surrounding the portrait. On the right hand side, the mintmark R, the year mark and the initials of the engraver M.C.C. INC. are written, while the left hand side shows the name of the author LONGO. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. | ||||
| Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union | 2 million coins | FDI: 1 June 2007 FDC: 1 July 2007 |
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| Description: The inner part of the coin shows a cork oak Cork Oak Quercus suber, commonly called the Cork Oak, is a medium-sized, evergreen oak tree in the section Quercus sect. Cerris. It is the primary source of cork for wine bottle stoppers and other uses, such as cork flooring. It is native to southwest Europe and northwest Africa.It grows to up to 20 m,... (Quercus suber) taking up most of the coin's design; under the branches, on the left hand side, is the coat of arms of Portugal Coat of arms of Portugal The coat of arms of Portugal was officially adopted on 30 June 1911, along with the republican flag of Portugal. It is based on the coat of arms used by the Portuguese Kingdom since the Middle Ages.-History and meaning:... and on the right hand side the word written over three lines. The inscription is written in a semicircle along the bottom of the inner part, with the artist's signature on the right and the mint mark Mint mark A mint mark is an inscription on a coin indicating the mint where the coin was produced.-History:Mint marks were first developed to locate a problem. If a coin was underweight, or overweight, the mint mark would immediately tell where the coin was minted, and the problem could be located and fixed... near the coat of arms. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. |
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| 25th Anniversary of the Death of Grace Kelly Grace Kelly Grace Patricia Kelly was an American actress who, in April 1956, married Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, to become Princess consort of Monaco, styled as Her Serene Highness The Princess of Monaco, and commonly referred to as Princess Grace.After embarking on an acting career in 1950, at the age of... |
20,001 coins | 1 July 2007 | ||
| Description: On the inner part of the coin there is an effigy of Grace Kelly in profile, facing to the right. MONACO, the mint mark, the year mark and the engraver's mark are engraved in an arc at the bottom right of the inner part. The name of the artist R. B. BARON is engraved under the Princess' hair. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. | ||||
| 200th Birthday of Giuseppe Garibaldi Giuseppe Garibaldi Giuseppe Garibaldi was an Italian military and political figure. In his twenties, he joined the Carbonari Italian patriot revolutionaries, and fled Italy after a failed insurrection. Garibaldi took part in the War of the Farrapos and the Uruguayan Civil War leading the Italian Legion, and... |
130,000 coins | 9 October 2007 | ||
| Description: The inner circle of the coin features a portrait of Giuseppe Garibaldi. The inscription SAN MARINO and the year mark are engraved along the circle on the left and right sides respectively. The mint mark R and the initials of the author Ettore Lorenzo Frapiccini, E.L.F., appear on the right side of the inner circle. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. | ||||
| 90th Anniversary of Finland's Independence | 2 million coins | 1 December 2007 | ||
| Description: The centre part of the coin shows nine people rowing a boat with long oars. The year mark 2007 and the year 1917 (when Finland became independent) appear on the top and the bottom of the design respectively. The mint mark appears on the left side, and the inscription FI on the right side. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. | ||||
2007 commonly issued coin
| Image | Country | Feature | Volume | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50th Anniversary of the Signature of the Treaty of Rome Treaty of Rome The Treaty of Rome, officially the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, was an international agreement that led to the founding of the European Economic Community on 1 January 1958. It was signed on 25 March 1957 by Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany... |
87.453 million coins | 25 March 2007 | |||
| Description: The centre part of the coin shows the treaty signed by the original six member states of the European Coal and Steel Community European Coal and Steel Community The European Coal and Steel Community was a six-nation international organisation serving to unify Western Europe during the Cold War and create the foundation for the modern-day developments of the European Union... , on a background symbolising Michelangelo Michelangelo Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni , commonly known as Michelangelo, was an Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, poet, and engineer who exerted an unparalleled influence on the development of Western art... 's paving Pavement (architecture) A pavement in architecture is a stone or tile structure, the pavement, which can serve as a floor or an external feature. Pavements can be made of flagstones which are used for things like paving gardens, tiles also there were mosaics which were commonly used by the Romans.When along the side of... on the Piazza del Campidoglio in Rome Rome Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half... where the treaty was signed. The translation of EUROPE is inscribed above the book, but within the central design, whereas the translation of TREATY OF ROME 50 YEARS appears above the design. The year mark and the name of the issuing country are inscribed below the design, and the twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. (The location of the mint mark (and the engraver's initials, if they are shown) differs between the thirteen different versions.) |
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| Image | | Country | | Volume | |||
| 9 million coins | |||||
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5 million coins | ||||
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1.4 million coins | ||||
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| 9.4 million coins | |||||
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30 million coins | ||||
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4.82 million coins | ||||
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| 5 million coins | |||||
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| 2.1 million coins | |||||
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6.333 million coins | ||||
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2 million coins | ||||
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8 million coins | ||||
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| Due to special laws requiring that every coin bear the incumbent Grand Duke's portrait, the Luxembourgish edition of the common €2 commemorative coin differs slightly from the others in addition to the translated inscriptions, since a latent image of the Grand Duke's portrait was added (as required by national law) using a technique called multi-view minting. A similar Dutch law, which requires the portrait of the current head of state of the Netherlands and the words to appear on all coins issued by the Netherlands (for example, currently ) was amended so that the Netherlands could take part in this program; the amendment completely removed the requirement for €2 commemorative coins. Furthermore, due to Belgium's special multilingual society, the Belgian coin features the inscription in Latin Latin Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and... . The three micro-states which also use the euro due to an official agreement with the European Union (Monaco Monaco Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the... , San Marino San Marino San Marino, officially the Republic of San Marino , is a state situated on the Italian Peninsula on the eastern side of the Apennine Mountains. It is an enclave surrounded by Italy. Its size is just over with an estimated population of over 30,000. Its capital is the City of San Marino... and the Vatican City Vatican City Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of... ) did not issue this coin, as they are not member states of the European Union. However, some member states of the European Union which had not yet introduced the euro also took part in this program. For example, Cyprus Cyprus Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the... issued a £1 coin Cypriot pound The pound, also known as the lira , was the currency of Cyprus, including the Sovereign Base Areas in Akrotiri and Dhekelia, until 31 December 2007, when the Republic of Cyprus adopted the euro... and Hungary Hungary Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The... a 50 Ft coin Hungarian forint The forint is the currency of Hungary. It is divided into 100 fillér, although fillér coins are no longer in circulation. The introduction of the forint on 1 August 1946 was a crucial step of the post-WWII stabilization of the Hungarian economy, and the currency remained relatively stable until... with the same design. |
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2008 coinage
| Image | Country | Feature | Volume | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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St. Michaelis Church (Hamburg Hamburg -History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808... ) Third of the Bundesländer series |
30 million coins | 1 February 2008 | |
| Description: The inner part of the coin shows St. Michaelis Church in Hamburg. The name of the federal State HAMBURG is inscribed beneath the image of the church. To the right of the church are the engraver's stylised initials OE and above it towards the centre the mint mark. The outer ring has the year mark inscribed at the top, six stars on each side and below them the words BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND. | ||||
| Berg Castle Berg Castle Berg Castle , also called Colmar-Berg, is the principal residence of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg. It is situated in the town of Colmar-Berg, in central Luxembourg, near the confluence of the Alzette and the Attert, two of Luxembourg's most important rivers.-History:The estate at Colmar-Berg first... |
1.3 million coins | 2 February 2008 | ||
| Description: The inner part of the coin shows, in the foreground on the left side the effigy of Grand Duke Henri looking to the right and in the background on the right side the picture of Berg Castle Berg Castle Berg Castle , also called Colmar-Berg, is the principal residence of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg. It is situated in the town of Colmar-Berg, in central Luxembourg, near the confluence of the Alzette and the Attert, two of Luxembourg's most important rivers.-History:The estate at Colmar-Berg first... . The year mark is flanked by the mint mark and the mint master mark of the engraving workshop at the top of the coin. The name of the issuing country LËTZEBUERG appears at the bottom of the design. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. |
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| 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Universal Declaration of Human Rights The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly . The Declaration arose directly from the experience of the Second World War and represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled... |
5 million coins | April 2008 | ||
| Description: The inner part of the coin shows a man and a woman with an olive branch, an ear of corn, a cogwheel and some barbed wire, symbols respectively representing the right to peace, food, work and freedom, along with the links of a broken chain which form the figure 60°. In the centre of the coin are the initials of the issuing country RI; to the left the year mark; to the right the initials MCC of the artist, Maria Carmela Colaneri, and the mint mark; at the bottom, a cartouche with the inscription DIRITTI UMANI. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. | ||||
| European Year of Intercultural Dialogue European Year of Intercultural Dialogue Intercultural dialogue has long been a principle supported by the European Union and its Institutions. The year 2008 was designated "European Year of Intercultural Dialogue" by the European Parliament and the Member States of the European Union... |
130,000 coins | April 2008 | ||
| Description: The inner part of the coin represents the different cultures of the five regions within the European continent, symbolized by five human silhouettes and the sacred texts of the different communities. Arched inscriptions complete the design: at the top, SAN MARINO, and below that the year mark; at the bottom, ANNO EUROPEO DEL DIALOGO INTERCULTURALE and the initials E.L.F. of the artist, Ettore Lorenzo Frapiccini; and to the left, the mint mark. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. | ||||
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60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Universal Declaration of Human Rights The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly . The Declaration arose directly from the experience of the Second World War and represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled... |
5 million coins | April/May 2008 | |
| Description: The inner part of the coin shows curved lines around a rectangle marked with the figure 60. The year mark is inscribed above the rectangle and the words UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS appear below it. The name of the country in its three official languages (BELGIE – BELGIQUE – BELGIEN) is inscribed in a semicircle below the design. The mint marks appear to the left and right of the design respectively. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. | ||||
| 500th Birthday of Primož Trubar Primož Trubar Primož Trubar or Primož Truber was a Slovene Protestant reformer, the founder and the first superintendent of the Protestant Church of the Slovene Lands, a consolidator of the Slovene language and the author of the first Slovene-language printed book... |
1 million coins | May 2008 | ||
| Description: The inner part of the coin depicts an effigy of Primož Trubar in right profile. On the left the inscriptions PRIMOŽ TRUBAR and 1508–1586 appear in two semicircles, and towards the bottom right SLOVENIJA 2008 is inscribed (also in a semicircle). The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. | ||||
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French Presidency of the Council of the European Union Presidency of the Council of the European Union The Presidency of the Council of the European Union is the responsibility for the functioning of the Council of the European Union that rotates between the member states of the European Union every six months. The presidency is not a single president but rather the task is undertaken by a national... |
20 million coins | July 2008 | |
| Description: The inner part of the coin shows the inscription 2008 PRÉSIDENCE FRANÇAISE UNION EUROPÉENNE RF; the mint mark and the mintmaster's mark are located below, to the left and the right respectively. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. |
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| 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Universal Declaration of Human Rights The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly . The Declaration arose directly from the experience of the Second World War and represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled... |
1,025,000 coins | 15 September 2008 | ||
| Description: The inner part of the coin features the Portuguese coat of arms Coat of arms of Portugal The coat of arms of Portugal was officially adopted on 30 June 1911, along with the republican flag of Portugal. It is based on the coat of arms used by the Portuguese Kingdom since the Middle Ages.-History and meaning:... at the top, above the name of the issuing country PORTUGAL, the year mark and a geometric design in the bottom half of the centre. The legend 60 ANOS DA DECLARAÇÃO UNIVERSAL DOS DIREITOS HUMANOS adorns edge of the bottom two thirds of the inner ring and is followed by the inscription Esc. J. Duarte INCM in very small characters. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. |
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| 2008 – Year of Saint Paul the Apostle | 100,000 coins | 5 September 2008 | ||
| Description: The inner part of the coin depicts the conversion of Saint Paul on the road to Damascus (with the city visible in the background); the saint, dazzled by a light from the sky, falls from his rearing horse. Two inscriptions are engraved around the portrait: on the left side, an inscription denoting the issuing country CITTÀ DEL VATICANO; on the right side, the legend ANNO SANCTO PAULO DICATO. The year mark is inscribed to the right of the portrait, as well as the mintmark R and the artist's name VEROI. Beneath the portrait are the initials of the engraver Luciana De Simoni, L.D.S. INC.. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. | ||||
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60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Universal Declaration of Human Rights The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly . The Declaration arose directly from the experience of the Second World War and represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled... |
1.5 million coins | October 2008 | |
| Description: The inner part of the coin depicts a human figure seen through a heart-shaped hole in a stone wall. The text HUMAN RIGHTS is inscribed under the heart, and the year mark is engraved above it. The indication of the issuing country FI, the letter K (initial of the artist Tapio Kettunen) and the mint mark appear at the bottom of the design. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. | ||||
2009 coinage
| Image | Country | Feature | Volume | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Anniversary of Grand Duchess Charlotte's Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg was the reigning Grand Duchess of Luxembourg from 1919 to 1964.-Early life and life as Grand Duchess:... Accession to the Throne |
1.4 million coins | 1 January 2009 | ||
| Description: The coin shows the effigy of Grand Duke Henri on the left hand side of its inner part, superimposed on the effigy of the Grand Duchess Charlotte, both looking to the left. The vertically aligned text LËTZEBUERG and the year mark, flanked by the mint master's mark and the mint mark, appear on the right hand side of the inner part of the coin. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. | ||||
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Ludwigskirche Ludwigskirche Ludwigskirche in Old Saarbrücken, Germany, is a Protestant baroque style church. It is the symbol of the city and is considered to be one of the most important Protestant churches in Germany, along with the Dresden Frauenkirche and the St... in Saarbrücken Saarbrücken Saarbrücken is the capital of the state of Saarland in Germany. The city is situated at the heart of a metropolitan area that borders on the west on Dillingen and to the north-east on Neunkirchen, where most of the people of the Saarland live.... (Saarland Saarland Saarland is one of the sixteen states of Germany. The capital is Saarbrücken. It has an area of 2570 km² and 1,045,000 inhabitants. In both area and population, it is the smallest state in Germany other than the city-states... ) Fourth of the Bundesländer series |
30 million coins | 2 February 2009 | |
| Description: The inner part of the coin depicts the Ludwigskirche Ludwigskirche Ludwigskirche in Old Saarbrücken, Germany, is a Protestant baroque style church. It is the symbol of the city and is considered to be one of the most important Protestant churches in Germany, along with the Dresden Frauenkirche and the St... in Saarbrücken Saarbrücken Saarbrücken is the capital of the state of Saarland in Germany. The city is situated at the heart of a metropolitan area that borders on the west on Dillingen and to the north-east on Neunkirchen, where most of the people of the Saarland live.... . The name of the state SAARLAND and the mint mark appear under the monument; the engraver's initials FB (Friedrich Brenner) are displayed on the right of the monument. The lower part of the outer ring of the coin features the inscription BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND, and the upper part bears the year mark. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. |
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| European Year of Creativity and Innovation | 130,000 coins | May 2009 | ||
| Description: The inner part of the coin depicts objects representing scientific research: a book, a compass, a test tube and a flask. On the left are the three emblematic feathers of the Republic of San Marino. On the right the mint mark and year mark are shown. On the top is the legend CREATIVITÀ INNOVAZIONE. At the bottom are the inscription SAN MARINO and the initials of the artist A.M.. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. | ||||
| 2009 Lusophony Games 2009 Lusophony Games The 2009 Lusophony Games was the 2nd Lusophony Games , a multi-sport event for delegations representing Portuguese-speaking National Olympic committees.It took place in Lisbon, Portugal, from 11 to 19 July 2009... |
1.25 million coins | 9 June 2009 | ||
| Description: The inner part of the coin shows a gymnast swirling a long ribbon. At the top, the Portuguese coat of arms appears within a semicircle formed by the inscription PORTUGAL. In a semicircle at the bottom the legend 2.os JOGOS DA LUSOFONIA LISBOA is inscribed between the initials INCM on the left and the artist's name J. AURÉLIO on the right. The year mark appears above the gymnast's head, to the left. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin (on a background of concentric circular lines). | ||||
| 200th Birthday of Louis Braille Louis Braille Louis Braille was the inventor of braille, a system of reading and writing used by people who are blind or visually impaired... |
5 million coins | 25 September 2009 | ||
| Description: The inner part of the coin features a portrait of Louis Braille between his initials (L and B) in the Braille alphabet that he designed. Above the portrait is the inscription LOUIS BRAILLE, and underneath is the inscription BE between the dates 1809 and 2009. To the left and right respectively are the mint mark and the mint master mark. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. | ||||
| 200th Birthday of Louis Braille Louis Braille Louis Braille was the inventor of braille, a system of reading and writing used by people who are blind or visually impaired... |
2 million coins | 15 October 2009 | ||
| Description: The inner part of the coin depicts a hand reading an open book by touch. Above the index finger, which is pointing at the vertical inscription LOUIS BRAILLE 1809–2009, are two birds symbolising freedom of knowledge. The issuing country reference RI is at the top right, while the mint mark R is at the bottom right. Braille's name is written under the book in the Braille alphabet that he invented. At the very bottom are the initials MCC of the artist Maria Carmela Colanéri. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. | ||||
| 20th Anniversary of the Start of the Velvet Revolution Velvet Revolution The Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that took place from November 17 – December 29, 1989... |
1 million coins | November 2009 | ||
| Description: The inner part of the coin depicts a stylised bell made up of a series of keys. This recalls the demonstration on 17 November 1989, when marching citizens shook their keyrings to make a jangling sound. This marked the beginning of the Velvet Revolution Velvet Revolution The Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that took place from November 17 – December 29, 1989... . To the bottom right of the design are the artist’s mark and the mint mark of the Slovak Mint Kremnica mint The Kremnica Mint , is a state-owned mint situated in Kremnica, Slovakia. The Mint of Mincovňa Kremnica, š.p. was established in 1328, and for nearly seven centuries it has continuously been producing mint articles.-History:... (Mincovňa Kremnica). The design is surrounded above by the legend 17. NOVEMBER SLOBODA – DEMOKRACIA and the dates 1989–2009 and below by the name of the issuing country SLOVENSKO. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. |
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| International Year of Astronomy International Year of Astronomy The International Year of Astronomy was a year-long celebration of astronomy that took place in 2009 to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the first recorded astronomical observations with a telescope by Galileo Galilei and the publication of Johannes Kepler's Astronomia nova in the 17th century... |
106,084 | October 2009 | ||
| Description: The inner part of the coin depicts an allegory of the birth of the stars and planets together with several astronomical instruments. The mint mark R is situated in the bottom left quadrant and the year mark 2009 is at the bottom. The design is surrounded on the bottom left-hand side by the legend ANNO INTERNAZIONALE DELL´ASTRONOMIA and on the top right-hand side by the name of the issuing country CITTÀ DEL VATICANO. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. | ||||
| 200th Anniversary of Finnish Autonomy Grand Duchy of Finland The Grand Duchy of Finland was the predecessor state of modern Finland. It existed 1809–1917 as part of the Russian Empire and was ruled by the Russian czar as Grand Prince.- History :... |
1.6 million coins | October 2009 | ||
| Description: The inner part of the coin depicts the profile of the Porvoo Cathedral Porvoo Cathedral Porvoo cathedral is a cathedral in Porvoo, Finland. It was built in the 15th century, although the oldest parts date from the 13th century. It is used by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and is the seat of the Diocese of Borgå, Finland's Swedish-speaking diocese... , which was the site of opening of the first Diet of Finland Diet of Finland The Diet of Finland , was the legislative assembly of the Grand Duchy of Finland from 1809 to 1906 and the recipient of the powers of the Swedish Riksdag of the Estates.... . The date 1809 appears on the top, and the year mark is on the right side. The indication of the issuing country FI and the mint mark are on the left side. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. |
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2009 commonly issued coin
| Image | Country | Feature | Volume | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ten years of Economic and Monetary Union Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union The Economic and Monetary Union is an umbrella term for the group of policies aimed at converging the economies of members of the European Union in three stages so as to allow them to adopt a single currency, the euro. As such, it is largely synonymous with the eurozone.All member states of the... (EMU) and the birth of the euro Introduction of the euro The euro came into existence on 1 January 1999, although it has been a goal of the European Union and its predecessors since the 1960s. After tough negotiations, particularly due to opposition from the United Kingdom, the Maastricht Treaty entered into force in 1993 with the goal of creating... . |
84.085 million coins | 1 January 2009 | ||
| Description: The centre of the coin shows a stylised human figure whose left arm is prolonged by the euro symbol Euro sign The euro sign is the currency sign used for the euro, the official currency of the Eurozone in the European Union . The design was presented to the public by the European Commission on 12 December 1996. The international three-letter code for the euro is EUR... . The initials ΓΣ of the sculptor appear below the euro symbol. The name(s) of the issuing country in the national language(s) appear(s) at the top, while the indication 1999–2009 and the acronym EMU translated into the national language(s) appear at the bottom. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. |
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| Inscription: , . Due to special laws requiring that every coin bear the incumbent Grand Duke's portrait, the Luxembourgish edition of the common €2 commemorative coin differs slightly from the others in addition to the translated inscriptions, since two latent image of the Grand Duke's portrait were added (as required by national law). The method used (multi-view-minting) was even more sophisticated than the one used in 2007, as portraits of the Grand Duke from the left and the right could be seen, depending on which way one tilted the coin. |
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5.3 million coins | |||
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| The final design of the coin was chosen by electronic voting Electronic voting Electronic voting is a term encompassing several different types of voting, embracing both electronic means of casting a vote and electronic means of counting votes.... from 31 January 2008 to 22 February 2008, with the result announced on 25 February 2008. The designs were pre-selected by the national mint directors of the eurozone. The winner was George Stamatopoulos, a sculptor from the Bank of Greece Mint. |
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2010 coinage
| Image | Country | Feature | Volume | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Arms of the Grand Duke | 1 million coins | 14 January 2010 | |
| Description: The inner part of the coin depicts, on the left, a portrait of Grand Duke Henri facing towards the right, and on the right, the Coat of Arms of the Grand Duke, above which the year mark is shown between mint marks, overlapping slightly into the outer ring. Below, the name of the issuing country LËTZEBUERG overlaps slightly into the outer ring. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. | ||||
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City Hall and Roland Bremen Roland The Bremen Roland is a statue of Roland, erected in 1404. It stands in the market square of Bremen, Germany, facing the cathedral, and shows Roland, paladin of the first Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne and hero of the Battle of Roncevaux Pass... (Bremen Bremen (state) The Free Hanseatic City of Bremen is the smallest of Germany's 16 states. A more informal name, but used in some official contexts, is Land Bremen .-Geography:... ) Fifth of the Bundesländer series |
30 million coins | 29 January 2010 | |
| Description: The inner part of the coin features the Bremen City Hall, with the Roland (a statue) in the foreground. The word BREMEN is inscribed below the town hall on the right. The mint mark appears at the top left. The initials of the artist Bodo Broschat are at the very bottom, just below the statue. The initial of the issuing country D and the year mark are inserted at the top and bottom of the outer ring of the coin respectively, where the twelve stars of the European Union surround the design. | ||||
| Historic Centre of Córdoba Córdoba, Spain -History:The first trace of human presence in the area are remains of a Neanderthal Man, dating to c. 32,000 BC. In the 8th century BC, during the ancient Tartessos period, a pre-urban settlement existed. The population gradually learned copper and silver metallurgy... First of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites series |
8 million coins | February 2010 | ||
| Description: The inner part of the coin depicts the interior of the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba. On the left is the mint mark, and below is the name of the issuing country followed by the year mark ESPAÑA 2010. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. | ||||
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200th Anniversary of the Botanical Garden of Ljubljana Ljubljana Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants... |
1 million coins | 10 May 2010 | |
| Description: The inner part of the coin depicts the Rebrinčevolistna Hladnikija plant. On the left under the plant, its scientific name HLADNIKIA PASTINACIFOLIA is written in an arc. Around the image in a circle is the legend SLOVENIJA 2010. 200 LET. BOTANIČNI VRT. LJUBLJANA. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. | ||||
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200th Birthday of Camillo Benso, conte di Cavour | 4 million coins | March 2010 | |
| Description: The inner part of the coin shows a detail of the portrait of the Italian statesman in the centre, the inscriptions CAVOUR and RI on the left, and the mint mark, the dates 1810 and 2010 and the initials of the artist Claudia Momoni (C.M.) on the right. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. | ||||
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Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union | 5 million coins | June 2010 | |
| Description: The inner part of the coin shows the stylised letters EU and trio.be. Above the letters is the inscription BELGIAN PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EU 2010 and below it the trilingual inscription BELGIE BELGIQUE BELGIEN. Underneath the logo, the mint mark is displayed to the left of the year mark, and the mint master's mark to the right. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. | ||||
| Appeal of 18 June | 20 million coins | June 2010 | ||
| Description: The inner part of the coin shows General Charles de Gaulle Charles de Gaulle Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969.... , in uniform and bareheaded, at a microphone typical of the time, reading the Appeal, in which the name of the country RF is cleverly inserted. At the top is the year mark and below it the inscriptions 70 ANS and APPEL 18 JUIN. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. |
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| Centenary of the Portuguese Republic | 2.035 million coins | September 2010 | ||
| Description: The inner part of the coin shows in the centre the Portuguese coat of arms Coat of arms of Portugal The coat of arms of Portugal was officially adopted on 30 June 1911, along with the republican flag of Portugal. It is based on the coat of arms used by the Portuguese Kingdom since the Middle Ages.-History and meaning:... and the República effigy, two of the most representative symbols of the Portuguese Republic, surrounded by the legend República Portuguesa – 1910–2010, the mint mark and the name of the designer JOSE CÂNDIDO. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. |
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| 500th Anniversary of the Death of Sandro Botticelli Sandro Botticelli Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi, better known as Sandro Botticelli was an Italian painter of the Early Renaissance... |
130,000 coins | 7 September 2010 | ||
| Description: The inner part of the coin depicts "Pleasure", a detail of one of the three dancing Graces, freely inspired by the painting Primavera Primavera (painting) Primavera, also known as Allegory of Spring, is a tempera panel painting by Italian Renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli. Painted ca. 1482, the painting is described in Culture & Values as "[o]ne of the most popular paintings in Western art"... by Sandro Botticelli. On the top is the year mark, on the left the name of the issuing country SAN MARINO and the mint mark and on the right the initial m of the designer Roberto Mauri. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. |
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| Year for Priests | 115,000 coins | 12 October 2010 | ||
| Description: The inner part of the coin features a shepherd drawing a lamb from a lion's maw. Two inscriptions are engraved around the design: the name of the issuing country CITTA’ DEL VATICANO on the top and the topic of commemoration ANNO SACERDOTALE below it. The year mark is displayed to the left of the design, the mint mark at the bottom and the artist's name VEROI to the right. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. | ||||
| Currency Decree of 1860 granting Finland the right to issue banknotes and coins | 1.6 million coins | October 2010 | ||
| Description: The design consists on the left side of a stylised lion figure from the coat of arms of Finland Coat of arms of Finland The coat of arms of Finland is a crowned lion on a red field, the right forepaw replaced with an armoured hand brandishing a sword, trampling on a saber with the hindpaws... and the year mark, and on the right side of the mint mark and a set of numbers symbolising coin values. At the bottom the issuing country is indicated by the inscription FI. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. |
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| 25th Centenary of the Battle of Marathon Battle of Marathon The Battle of Marathon took place in 490 BC, during the first Persian invasion of Greece. It was fought between the citizens of Athens, aided by Plataea, and a Persian force commanded by Datis and Artaphernes. It was the culmination of the first attempt by Persia, under King Darius I, to subjugate... |
2.5 million coins | October 2010 | ||
| Description: The inner part of the coin shows a synthesis of a shield and a runner/warrior symbolizing the battle for freedom and the noble ideals derived from the battle of Marathon Battle of Marathon The Battle of Marathon took place in 490 BC, during the first Persian invasion of Greece. It was fought between the citizens of Athens, aided by Plataea, and a Persian force commanded by Datis and Artaphernes. It was the culmination of the first attempt by Persia, under King Darius I, to subjugate... . The bird on the shield symbolises the birth of western civilization in its present form. Surrounding the centre is the Greek inscription ΜΑΡΑΘΩΝΑΣ/2500 ΧΡΟΝΙΑ/490 Π.Χ./2010 Μ.Χ. (Marathon/2,500 years/490 BC/2010 AD) and the name of the issuing country (ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ). The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. |
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2011 coinage
| Image | Country | Feature | Volume | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20th Anniversary of Foundation of the Visegrád Group Visegrád Group The Visegrád Group, also called the Visegrád Four or V4, is an alliance of four Central European states – Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia – for the purposes of cooperation and furthering their European integration... |
1 million coins | 10 January 2011 | ||
| Description: The inner part of the coin depicts a map of the four countries that comprise the Visegrád Group (Czech Republic Czech Republic The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest.... , Hungary Hungary Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The... , Poland Poland Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north... and Slovakia Slovakia The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south... ). The map is supplemented by a stylized abbreviation V IV; the name of the issuing country SLOVENSKO is situated in the lower right part, and the year mark in the lower left part. The design is surrounded by the legend VYŠEHRADSKÁ SKUPINA • VISEGRAD GROUP and the date of the foundation of the Viségrad Group 15. 2. 1991. The initials of the coin's designer Miroslav Rónai and the mint mark appear under the name of the country. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. |
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500th Anniversary of the Publication of The Praise of Folly The Praise of Folly In Praise of Folly is an essay written in 1509 by Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam and first printed in 1511... by Desiderius Erasmus Desiderius Erasmus Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus , known as Erasmus of Rotterdam, was a Dutch Renaissance humanist, Catholic priest, and a theologian.... |
4 million coins | 24 January 2011 | |
| Description: The inner part of the coin depicts Erasmus writing his book and the effigy of Beatrix of the Netherlands Beatrix of the Netherlands Beatrix is the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands comprising the Netherlands, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and Aruba. She is the first daughter of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. She studied law at Leiden University... . Between these two images, the inscription Beatrix Koningin der Nederlanden (vertically written), the year mark, the mint master mark and the mintmark appear. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. |
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Cologne Cologne Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the... Cathedral Cologne Cathedral Cologne Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church in Cologne, Germany. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne and the administration of the Archdiocese of Cologne. It is renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture and is a World Heritage Site... (North-Rhine Westphalia) Sixth of the Bundesländer series |
30 million coins | 28 January 2011 | |
| Description: The design shows the Cologne Cologne Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the... cathedral Cologne Cathedral Cologne Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church in Cologne, Germany. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne and the administration of the Archdiocese of Cologne. It is renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture and is a World Heritage Site... in its entirety, as a masterpiece of the Gothic architecture Gothic architecture Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture.... , emphasizing the beauty of the south portal. The name NORDRHEIN-WESTFALEN, just below the building, links the pictured building with the state. The mint mark is located in the right upper part of the centre, with the artist Heinz Hoyer's initials in the right part of the centre. The year mark and the letter D (for Deutschland) are placed between the stars in the outer part of the coin, at the bottom and top, respectively. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin |
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| 50th Anniversary of the Appointment of Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg ruled Luxembourg from 1964 to 2000. He is the father of the current ruler, Grand Duke Henri, and the son of Grand Duchess Charlotte and Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma... by his mother Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg was the reigning Grand Duchess of Luxembourg from 1919 to 1964.-Early life and life as Grand Duchess:... as lieutenant-représentant |
1.4 million coins | 3 February 2011 | ||
| Description: The inner part of the coin depicts Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg OIH is the head of state of Luxembourg. He is the eldest son of Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg and Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium. His maternal grandparents were King Leopold III of Belgium and Astrid of Sweden... on the right-hand side looking to the left, and superimposed on the effigies of Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg ruled Luxembourg from 1964 to 2000. He is the father of the current ruler, Grand Duke Henri, and the son of Grand Duchess Charlotte and Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma... and Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg was the reigning Grand Duchess of Luxembourg from 1919 to 1964.-Early life and life as Grand Duchess:... . The text LËTZEBUERG is written above the three effigies. The year mark 2011, surrounded by the mint mark and the mintmaster mark, appears at the top. The name of the person depicted is written below the respective effigy. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. |
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| Patio de los Leones of the Alhambra Alhambra The Alhambra , the complete form of which was Calat Alhambra , is a palace and fortress complex located in the Granada, Andalusia, Spain... , Generalife Generalife The Palacio de Generalife was the summer palace and country estate of the Nasrid Emirs of the Emirate of Granada in Al-Andalus, now beside the city of Granada in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain.-History:... and Albayzín Albayzín El Albayzín is a district of present day Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain, that retains the narrow winding streets of its Medieval Moorish past... , Granada Granada Granada is a city and the capital of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of three rivers, the Beiro, the Darro and the Genil. It sits at an elevation of 738 metres above sea... Second of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites series |
8 million coins | March 2011 | ||
| Description: The design shows an image of the Patio de los Leones in the Alhambra Alhambra The Alhambra , the complete form of which was Calat Alhambra , is a palace and fortress complex located in the Granada, Andalusia, Spain... in Granada Granada Granada is a city and the capital of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of three rivers, the Beiro, the Darro and the Genil. It sits at an elevation of 738 metres above sea... . At the bottom of the coin is the inscription ESPAÑA and the year mark, with the mint mark at the top. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. |
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| 100th Birthday of Franc Rozman – Stane | 1 million coins | March 2011 | ||
| Description: The design shows on the left side the image of Franc Rozman – Stane with a five-pointed star below him. The inscription SLOVENIJA separates the upper and lower parts of the right-hand side of the coin; the year mark is written vertically below the inscription, and the inscriptions FRANC, ROZMAN, STANE (vertically) and 1911, 1944 (horizontally) appear above the inscription. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. | ||||
| 1st Centenary of the International Women's Day International Women's Day International Women's Day , originally called International Working Women’s Day, is marked on March 8 every year. In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political and... |
5 million coins | March 2011 | ||
| Description: The coin displays the effigies of Isala Van Diest Isala Van Diest Anne Catherine Albertine Isala Van Diest, better known by the name Isala Van Diest, born on May 7, 1842 at Louvain and died February 2, 1916 in Knokke was the first female medical doctor and the first female university graduate in Belgium.- Biography :... , the first female Belgian doctor, and Marie Popelin Marie Popelin Marie Popelin was a Belgian feminist, educator, and advocate.Born in Schaerbeek into a middle-class family—one of her brothers was a doctor, another an army officer—Marie Popelin was well educated by the standards of the time and place... , the first female Belgian lawyer. Their names (I. VAN DIEST and M. POPELIN) are written under the effigies, separated by the year mark, and above the inscriptions are the symbols of their respective professions (the Rod of Asclepius Rod of Asclepius The rod of Asclepius , also known as the asklepian, is an ancient symbol associated with astrology, the Greek god Asclepius, and with medicine and healing. It consists of a serpent entwined around a staff. The name of the symbol derives from its early and widespread association with Asclepius, the... and the Scales of Justice). Above the effigies are the inscription BE, the mint master mark and the mint mark. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. |
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| 150th Anniversary of Italian unification Italian unification Italian unification was the political and social movement that agglomerated different states of the Italian peninsula into the single state of Italy in the 19th century... |
10 million coins | March 2011 | ||
| Description: The inner part of the coin shows three Italian flags Flag of Italy The flag of Italy is a tricolour featuring three equally sized vertical pales of green, white, and red, with the green at the hoist side... in the wind, representing the three anniversaries (1911, 1961 and 2011) and illustrating a link between generations; this is the logo of the 150th anniversary of Italian unification. There are a number of inscriptions: at the top, the inscription 150º DELL'UNITÀ D'ITALIA; at the right, the initials RI; at the bottom, the dates 1861 › 2011 › ›; under the dates, at the centre, the mint mark, and at the right, the initials of the artist Ettore Lorenzo Frapiccini and his profession (incisore), ELF INC.. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. |
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30th Anniversary of Fête de la Musique Fête de la Musique The Fête de la Musique, also known as World Music Day, is a music festival taking place on June 21.-History:The idea was first broached in 1976 by American musician Joel Cohen, then employed by the national French radio station France Musique. Cohen proposed an all-night music celebration at the... |
10 million coins | 21 June 2011 | |
| Description: The inner part of the coin depicts a cheerful crowd (with the stylized image of a musical instrument and notes floating in the air) symbolizing the atmosphere of celebration on the Day of Music, which has been celebrated in France every summer solstice since 1981. The words Fête de la MUSIQUE and the date 21 JUIN 2011 appear in the centre of the drawing. At the top, slanting rightwards, are the words 30e ANNIVERSAIRE and the letters RF appear at the bottom. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. | ||||
| 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games The 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games is a sporting event held from June, 25th 2011 - July, 4th 2011 in Athens, Greece. The opening ceremony of the games took place on 25 June 2011 at the Panathinaiko Stadium and the closing ceremony was held on 4 July 2011."Over 7,500" athletes, from 185... in Athens Athens Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state... from 25 June to 4 July 2011 |
1 million coins | June 2011 | ||
| Description: The centre of the coin shows the symbol of the Games, a radiant sun, the "source of life that underlines the excellence and power of the athlete that takes part in the Games". "Excellence" is depicted in the olive branch, and "power" in the spiral form in the centre of the sun. Two inscriptions surround the centre on the right half, XIII Special Olympics W.S.G. Athens 2011 and ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ, with the mint mark in between. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. | ||||
| 500th Birthday of Giorgio Vasari Giorgio Vasari Giorgio Vasari was an Italian painter, writer, historian, and architect, who is famous today for his biographies of Italian artists, considered the ideological foundation of art-historical writing.-Biography:... |
130,000 coins | June 2011 | ||
| Description: The inner part of the coin shows a detail from the painting Judith and Holofernes by Giorgio Vasari Giorgio Vasari Giorgio Vasari was an Italian painter, writer, historian, and architect, who is famous today for his biographies of Italian artists, considered the ideological foundation of art-historical writing.-Biography:... . At the bottom are the dates 1511–2011, with the inscription G. Vasari and the mint mark on the left and the inscriptions San Marino and C.M. (the mint maker Claudia Momoni's initials) on the right. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. |
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Wedding of Prince Albert and Charlene Wittstock Charlene Wittstock Charlene, Princess of Monaco , is the wife of Albert II, Prince of Monaco. She is also a former South African Olympic swimmer.... |
148,000 coins | 2 July 2011 | |
| Description: The inner part of the coin shows the effigies of Prince Albert and Charlene Wittstock in the centre; the inscription MONACO and the yearmark are at the bottom, with the mint mark and the mint engraver's mark flanking the inscription. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. | ||||
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500th Birthday of Fernão Mendes Pinto Fernão Mendes Pinto Fernão Mendes Pinto was a Portuguese explorer and writer. His exploits are known through the posthumous publication of his memoir Pilgrimage in 1614, an autobiographical work whose truthfulness is nearly impossible to assess... |
520,000 coins | 15 September 2011 | |
| Description: The inner part of the coin shows a sailing ship on several wave-shaped inscriptions referring to Portugal, Lisbon, his book Peregrinação and some of his travel destinations. The inscription Portugal appears underneath, and his name above. The years 1511 and 2011 appear are to the left and right of the central image, respectively. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. | ||||
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200th Anniversary of the Bank of Finland Bank of Finland The Bank of Finland is the central bank of Finland. It is the fourth oldest central bank in the world.-History:The Bank of Finland was established on 1 March in 1812 in the city of Turku by Alexander I of Russia. In 1819 it was relocated to Helsinki... (Suomen Pankki) |
1.5 million coins | October 2011 | |
| Description: The centre of the coin shows a Whooper Swan Whooper Swan The Whooper Swan , Cygnus cygnus, is a large Northern Hemisphere swan. It is the Eurasian counterpart of the North American Trumpeter Swan. An old name for the Whooper Swan is Elk; it is so called in Francis Willughby and John Ray's Ornithology of 1676.-Description:The Whooper Swan is similar in... (the Finnish national bird). The swan's wing separates the years 1811 (at the bottom right) and 2011 (at the centre left). The letter V in the left armpit of the swan stands for the surname of the designer Hannu Veijalainen. At the bottom of the inner ring, the inscription FI and the mint mark are shown. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. |
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| First election of representatives in 1849 First of the constitutional history series |
430,000 coins | October 2011 | ||
| Description: The centre of the coin depicts a hand putting a vote into a ballot box. There are two inscriptions: the year mark at the bottom of the inner part of the coin, and at the top and right the inscription MALTA — First elected representatives 1849. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. | ||||
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26th World Youth Day World Youth Day 2011 World Youth Day 2011 was the 2011 occurrence of World Youth Day, a Catholic event held from August 16-21, 2011 in Madrid, Spain focused on youth... in August 2011 |
115,000 coins | October 2011 | |
| Description: The inner part of the coin shows three young people and two flags, as well as the mint mark and the year mark. At the top of the inner ring, interrupted by a crown and the flags, is the inscription XXVI G. M. G. (for the Italian 26ᵃ Giornata Mondiale della Gioventù). At the bottom of the inner ring is the inscription CITTÀ DEL VATICANO. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin. | ||||
German Bundesländer series
GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
started the commemorative coin series (The 16 States
States of Germany
Germany is made up of sixteen which are partly sovereign constituent states of the Federal Republic of Germany. Land literally translates as "country", and constitutionally speaking, they are constituent countries...
of the Federal Republic of Germany) in 2006, which will continue until 2021. The year in which the coin for a specific state is issued coincides with that state's Presidency
President of the German Bundesrat
In Germany, the President of the Bundesrat or President of the Federal Council is the chairperson or speaker of the Bundesrat . The presidency of the Bundesrat rotates among the heads of government of each of the states on an annual basis...
of the Bundesrat
Bundesrat of Germany
The German Bundesrat is a legislative body that represents the sixteen Länder of Germany at the federal level...
. The coins issued are:
| Year | Number | State | Design |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 |  Schleswig-Holstein |
Holstentor Holstentor The Holsten Gate is a city gate marking off the western boundary of the old center of the Hanseatic city of Lübeck. This Brick Gothic construction is one of the relics of Lübeck’s medieval city fortifications and the only remaining city gate, except for the Citadel Gate... in Lübeck Lübeck The Hanseatic City of Lübeck is the second-largest city in Schleswig-Holstein, in northern Germany, and one of the major ports of Germany. It was for several centuries the "capital" of the Hanseatic League and, because of its Brick Gothic architectural heritage, is listed by UNESCO as a World... |
| 2007 | 2 |  Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania |
Schwerin Schwerin Schwerin is the capital and second-largest city of the northern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The population, as of end of 2009, was 95,041.-History:... Castle Schwerin Castle Schwerin Castle is a castle located in the city of Schwerin, the capital of the Bundesland of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. For centuries it was the home of the dukes and grand dukes of Mecklenburg and later Mecklenburg-Schwerin. It currently serves as the seat of the state... |
| 2008 | 3 |  Hamburg |
St. Michaelis Church |
| 2009 | 4 |  Saarland |
Ludwigskirche Ludwigskirche Ludwigskirche in Old Saarbrücken, Germany, is a Protestant baroque style church. It is the symbol of the city and is considered to be one of the most important Protestant churches in Germany, along with the Dresden Frauenkirche and the St... in Saarbrücken Saarbrücken Saarbrücken is the capital of the state of Saarland in Germany. The city is situated at the heart of a metropolitan area that borders on the west on Dillingen and to the north-east on Neunkirchen, where most of the people of the Saarland live.... |
| 2010 | 5 |  Bremen (state) |
City Hall and Roland Bremen Roland The Bremen Roland is a statue of Roland, erected in 1404. It stands in the market square of Bremen, Germany, facing the cathedral, and shows Roland, paladin of the first Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne and hero of the Battle of Roncevaux Pass... |
| 2011 | 6 |  North Rhine-Westphalia |
Cologne Cologne Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the... Cathedral Cologne Cathedral Cologne Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church in Cologne, Germany. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne and the administration of the Archdiocese of Cologne. It is renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture and is a World Heritage Site... |
The other ten coins will be issued in the following years; note that some designs are not yet finalised and still subject to change. Originally, the designs for the following states were different:
- HamburgHamburg-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
: LandungsbrückenLandungsbrückenThe St. Pauli Landungsbrücken , part of the Hamburg Harbour, are in the quarter St. Pauli of Hamburg, Germany, between the lower harbor and the Fischmarkt directly on the Elbe River. The Landungsbrücken today are a major tourist attraction and a central transportation hub, with S-Bahn, U-Bahn and... - BremenBremen (state)The Free Hanseatic City of Bremen is the smallest of Germany's 16 states. A more informal name, but used in some official contexts, is Land Bremen .-Geography:...
: City Hall only - BavariaBavariaBavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
: MunichMunichMunich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
FrauenkircheMunich FrauenkircheThe Frauenkirche is a church in the Bavarian city of Munich that serves as the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising and seat of its Archbishop. It is a landmark and is considered a symbol of the Bavarian capital city.The church towers are widely visible because of local height... - Lower SaxonyLower SaxonyLower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
: HanoverHanoverHanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
New City HallNew City Hall (Hanover)The New City Hall or New Town Hall in Hanover, Germany, is a city hall and was opened on July 20, 1913, after having been under construction for 12 years. It is a magnificent, castle-like building of the era of William II in eclectic style at the southern edge of the inner city...
, then St. Michael's ChurchSt. Michael's Church, HildesheimThe Church of St. Michael in Hildesheim, Germany, is an early-Romanesque church. It has been on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list since 1985.-History:...
in HildesheimHildesheimHildesheim is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located in the district of Hildesheim, about 30 km southeast of Hanover on the banks of the Innerste river, which is a small tributary of the Leine river... - HesseHesseHesse or Hessia is both a cultural region of Germany and the name of an individual German state.* The cultural region of Hesse includes both the State of Hesse and the area known as Rhenish Hesse in the neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate state...
: RömerRomerA Reference Card or "Romer" is a device for increasing the accuracy when reading a grid reference from a map. Made from transparent plastic, paper or other materials, they are also found on most baseplate compasses. Essentially, it is a specially marked-out ruler which matches the scale of the map...
in Frankfurt am Main - BerlinBerlinBerlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
: ReichstagReichstag (building)The Reichstag building is a historical edifice in Berlin, Germany, constructed to house the Reichstag, parliament of the German Empire. It was opened in 1894 and housed the Reichstag until 1933, when it was severely damaged in a fire. During the Nazi era, the few meetings of members of the...
| Year | Number | State | Design |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 7 |  Kingdom of Bavaria |
Neuschwanstein Castle near Füssen Füssen Füssen is a town in Bavaria, Germany, in the district of Ostallgäu situated from the Austrian border. It is located on the banks of the Lech river. The River Lech flows into the Forggensee... |
| 2013 | 8 |  Baden-Württemberg |
Maulbronn Maulbronn Maulbronn is a city in the district of Enz in Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany.-History:Founded in 1838, it emerged from a settlement, built around a monastery, which belonged to the Neckar Community in the Kingdom of Württemberg. In 1886, Maulbronn officially became a German town and was an... Abbey Maulbronn Abbey Maulbronn Monastery is the best-preserved medieval Cistercian monastery complex in Europe. It is situated on the outskirts of Maulbronn, Baden-Württemberg, Germany and is separated from the town by fortifications. Since 1993 the monastery is part of the Unesco World Heritage.- History :The... |
| 2014 | 9 |  Lower Saxony |
St. Andrew's Church in Hildesheim Hildesheim Hildesheim is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located in the district of Hildesheim, about 30 km southeast of Hanover on the banks of the Innerste river, which is a small tributary of the Leine river... |
| 2015 | 10 |  Hesse |
Paulskirche in Frankfurt am Main |
| 2016 | 11 |  Kingdom of Saxony |
Zwinger Palace Zwinger The Zwinger is a palace in Dresden, eastern Germany, built in Baroque style. It served as the orangery, exhibition gallery and festival arena of the Dresden Court.... in Dresden Dresden Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area.... |
| 2017 | 12 |  Rhineland-Palatinate |
Porta Nigra Porta Nigra The Porta Nigra is a large Roman city gate in Trier, Germany. It is today the largest Roman city gate north of the Alps and has been designated a World Heritage Site.... in Trier Trier Trier, historically called in English Treves is a city in Germany on the banks of the Moselle. It is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC.... |
| 2018 | 13 |  Berlin |
Charlottenburg Charlottenburg Charlottenburg is a locality of Berlin within the borough of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, named after Queen consort Sophia Charlotte... Palace Charlottenburg Palace Charlottenburg Palace is the largest palace in Berlin, Germany, and the only royal residency in the city dating back to the time of the Hohenzollern family. It is located in the Charlottenburg district of the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf burough.The palace was built at the end of the 17th century... |
| 2019 | 14 |  Saxony-Anhalt |
Cathedral Cathedral of Magdeburg The Protestant Cathedral of Magdeburg , officially called the Cathedral of Saints Catherine and Maurice , is the oldest Gothic cathedral in Germany. It is the proto-cathedral of the former Prince-Archbishopric of Magdeburg. Today it's the principal church of the Evangelical Church in Central Germany... of Magdeburg Magdeburg Magdeburg , is the largest city and the capital city of the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Magdeburg is situated on the Elbe River and was one of the most important medieval cities of Europe.... |
| 2020 | 15 |  Thuringia |
Wartburg Castle Wartburg Castle The Wartburg is a castle situated on a 1230-foot precipice to the southwest of, and overlooking the town of Eisenach, in the state of Thuringia, Germany... in Eisenach Eisenach Eisenach is a city in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated between the northern foothills of the Thuringian Forest and the Hainich National Park. Its population in 2006 was 43,626.-History:... |
| 2021 | 16 |  Brandenburg |
Sanssouci Palace Sanssouci Sanssouci is the name of the former summer palace of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, in Potsdam, near Berlin. It is often counted among the German rivals of Versailles. While Sanssouci is in the more intimate Rococo style and is far smaller than its French Baroque counterpart, it too is... in Potsdam Potsdam Potsdam is the capital city of the German federal state of Brandenburg and part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. It is situated on the River Havel, southwest of Berlin city centre.... |
The series is similar to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
' 50 State Quarters
50 State Quarters
The 50 State Quarters program is the release of a series of circulating commemorative coins by the United States Mint. Between 1999 and 2008, it featured each of the 50 U.S. states on unique designs for the reverse of the quarter....
series, which saw fifty coins issued for its fifty constituent states, five per year between 1999 and 2008. A separate program saw six coins issued in 2009 for the District of Columbia and five territories of the United States.
Maltese constitutional history series
Malta started a series of five €2 commemorative coins, all related to the Maltese constitutional history. The first coin was released in 2011 and the last coin will be minted in 2015. It is likely that the 4th coin, which will be released in 2014, will commemorate 50th anniversary of Malta's constitution.The issued coin is:
| Year | Number | Design |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 | First Election of Representatives in 1849 |
The four coins to be issued in the following years are:
| Year | Number | Design |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 2 | 1887 Majority Representation |
| 2013 | 3 | Establishment of Self-Government in 1921 |
| 2014 | 4 | Independence from Britain in 1964 |
| 2015 | 5 | Proclamation of the Republic of Malta in 1974 |
Spanish UNESCO World Heritage Sites series
SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
started the commemorative coin series (UNESCO World Heritage) in 2010, commemorating all of Spain's UNESCO World Heritage Sites
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Spain
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Sites are places of importance to cultural or natural heritage as described in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972...
, which could continue until 2050. The order in which the coin for a specific site is issued coincides with the order in which they were declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. The coins issued are:
| Year | Number | Design |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 | Historic Centre of Córdoba Córdoba, Spain -History:The first trace of human presence in the area are remains of a Neanderthal Man, dating to c. 32,000 BC. In the 8th century BC, during the ancient Tartessos period, a pre-urban settlement existed. The population gradually learned copper and silver metallurgy... |
| 2011 | 2 | Patio de los Leones of the Alhambra Alhambra The Alhambra , the complete form of which was Calat Alhambra , is a palace and fortress complex located in the Granada, Andalusia, Spain... , Generalife Generalife The Palacio de Generalife was the summer palace and country estate of the Nasrid Emirs of the Emirate of Granada in Al-Andalus, now beside the city of Granada in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain.-History:... and Albayzín Albayzín El Albayzín is a district of present day Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain, that retains the narrow winding streets of its Medieval Moorish past... , Granada Granada Granada is a city and the capital of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of three rivers, the Beiro, the Darro and the Genil. It sits at an elevation of 738 metres above sea... |
The coins planned to be issued in the coming years are:
| Year | Number | Design |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 3 | Burgos Burgos Burgos is a city of northern Spain, historic capital of Castile. It is situated at the edge of the central plateau, with about 178,966 inhabitants in the city proper and another 20,000 in its suburbs. It is the capital of the province of Burgos, in the autonomous community of Castile and León... Cathedral Burgos Cathedral The Burgos Cathedral is a Gothic-style Roman Catholic cathedral in Burgos, Spain. It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and is famous for its vast size and unique architecture. Its construction began in 1221, and was in use nine years later, although work continued on and off for two hundred years... |
| 2013 | 4 | Monastery and Site of the Escorial El Escorial The Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a historical residence of the king of Spain, in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, about 45 kilometres northwest of the capital, Madrid, in Spain. It is one of the Spanish royal sites and functions as a monastery, royal palace, museum, and... , Madrid Madrid (autonomous community) The Community of Madrid is one of the seventeen autonomous communities of Spain. It is located at the center of the country, the Iberian Peninsula, and the Castilian Central Plateau . The community is also conterminous with the province of Madrid and contains the capital of Spain, which is also... |
| 2014 | 5 | Works of Antoni Gaudí Antoni Gaudí Antoni Gaudí i Cornet was a Spanish Catalan architect and figurehead of Catalan Modernism. Gaudí's works reflect his highly individual and distinctive style and are largely concentrated in the Catalan capital of Barcelona, notably his magnum opus, the Sagrada Família.Much of Gaudí's work was... |
| 2015 | 6 | Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain |