€2 commemorative coins
2007 Schools Wikipedia Selection. Related subjects: Currency
€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 at 17 October 2006, twenty variations of €2 commemorative coins have been minted — six in 2004, eight in 2005 and six in 2006. One more is currently planned to be minted later in 2006. €2 commemorative coins have become collectibles.
Regulations and restrictions
The basis for the commemorative coins derived from a decision of the European Council, which repealed the prohibition of changing the national obverse sides of euro coins from 1 January 2004 onwards.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. For one, nothing has changed about the fact that euro coins have a common reverse side, so only the national obverse sides may be changed. Additionally, 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 dies 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 shouldn't surpass the higher of the following two numbers:
- 0.1 per cent 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 per cent 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.
Issues
As of February 2006, ten countries have issued €2 commemorative coins (Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, San Marino, Spain and the Vatican City), with Greece being the first country to issue this type of coin. Five eurozone countries have not yet issued such coins (France, Ireland, Monaco, the Netherlands and Portugal).
The face value of the coins is typically less than their intrinsic value of between €3 and €12. The exceptions are San Marino and the Vatican City, where coins from the former are regularly sold for between €30 and €40, while coins from the latter are very rarely obtained for less than €100.
Issued designs are made public in the Official Journal of the European Union (references to these publications are given in the tables below).
Note: In heraldry, directions are often described as they would appear to the bearer of a coat of arms, rather than as they would appear to the viewer. Therefore, the following descriptions will use "facing to the left" when it would appear to the layman that the person depicted is facing to the right.
2004 coinage
| Image | Country | Feature | Volume | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 Greece |
Summer Olympics in Athens 2004 | 50 million coins | May 2004 |
| Description: The Discobolus (a classical Greek sculpture by Myron) is depicted in the centre of the coin. To the right of it is the logo of the Olympic games (ATHENS 2004) and the five Olympic Rings, while to the left the denomination of the coin in Greek is given (2 ΕΥΡΩ). 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 is to the upper right of the statue's head. | ||||
 |
 Finland |
Fifth Enlargement of the European Union in 2004 | 1 million coins | July 2004 |
| Description: The coin's design resembles a stylised pillar from which ten sprouts grow upwards. This is a metaphorical 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 left side of the pillar, representing the Greek small letter "ρ" (rho), 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. | ||||
 |
 Luxembourg |
Effigy and Monogram of Grand Duke Henri | 2.49 million coins | 26 July 2004 |
| Description: On the right side of the centre part of the coin, the effigy of Grand Duke Henri is depicted, looking to the left. The left side displays his monogram (the letter H topped with a crown). The twelve stars of the European Union are also on the left side of the inner part, surrounding the monogram in a semi-circular form. The year mark, the mint mark and the engraver's initials are written in circular shape at the top of the outer ring, together with the word LËTZEBUERG ("Luxembourg" in Luxembourgish), while the words HENRI — Grand-Duc de Luxembourg appear at the bottom of the ring. | ||||
 |
 Italy |
Fifth Decade of the World Food Programme | 16 million coins | 13 December 2004 |
| Description: In the centre of the coin is a globe, tilted to the left. Three ears emerge from behind the globe, reaching out to cross the outer ring; these are maize, rice and wheat, representing the world's basic sources of nourishment. The letters R and I, superimposed over one another, are to the left of the globe (representing Repubblica Italiana), and below them are the engraver's ( Uliana Pernazza) initials (a combination of the letters U and P). The mint mark (R) is to the upper right 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. | ||||
 |
 San Marino |
Bartolomeo Borghesi | 110,000 coins | 16 December 2004 |
| Description: The central piece of this coin is a bust of the famous historian and numismatist Bartolomeo Borghesi. It is surrounded by numerous inscriptions in the centre of the coin: SAN MARINO to the left of the bust, BARTOLOMEO BORGHESI, the mint mark (R) and the engraver's initials (E.L.F.) to the right of it. On the outer ring, the coin displays the twelve stars of the European Union and the year mark (bottom centre). | ||||
 |
 Vatican City |
75th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Vatican City State | 85,000 coins | 16 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 in the foreground, together with the inscriptions 75o ANNO DELLO STATO (to the right), 1929–2004 and the mint mark (R) (both to the left). 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 left in smaller print. The outer ring is adorned by the twelve stars of the European Union and the inscription CITTÀ DEL VATICANO. | ||||
2005 coinage
| Image | Country | Feature | Volume | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Luxembourg |
50th Birthday of Grand Duke Henri, 5th Anniversary of his Accession to the Throne and 100th Anniversary of the Death of Grand Duke Adolphe | 2.8 million coins | 15 February 2005 |
| Description: In the centre of the coin, the effigies of the Grand Dukes Henri and Adolphe are displayed, both looking to the left, with Henri's superimposed on Adolphe's. The inscription GRANDS-DUCS DE LUXEMBOURG appears above the effigies, while the inscriptions HENRI *1955 and ADOLPHE †1905 are written below the respective effegies. The outer ring of the coin contains the twelve stars of the European Union, placed between the letters of the word LËTZEBUERG and the year mark, which is centred below the effigies positioned between the engraver's initial (S) on the right and the mint mark on the left. | ||||
 |
 Austria |
50th Anniversary of the Austrian State Treaty | 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 ministers of the Allied occupying forces ( Vyacheslav Molotov for the Soviet Union, John Foster Dulles for the United States, Harold Macmillan for the United Kingdom and Antoine Pinay for France), the High Commissioners of the four sectors, as well as the Foreign Minister of Austria ( Leopold Figl) on 15 May 1955. The inscription 50 JAHRE STAATSVERTRAG is above the seals, while the year mark is below it; in the background, vertical stripes serve as a heraldic depiction of Austria's national flag ( red- white-red). The outer ring contains the twelve stars of the European Union. | ||||
 |
 Belgium |
Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union | 6 million coins | 20 May 2005 |
| Description: In the centre of the coin, the effigies of Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg and King Albert II of the Belgians are depicted, looking right. The engraver's initials (LL) are in the lower left, 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. | ||||
 |
 Spain |
4th Centenary of the first edition of Miguel de Cervantes' El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha | 8 million coins | 30 June 2005 |
| Description: The centre of the coin displays Don Quixote holding a lance, with the windmills from one of his most well-known escapades in the background. The inscription ESPAÑA is impressed into the surface of the coin to the right of the image, with the mint mark (an M topped by a crown) below. The twelve stars of the European Union are placed on the outer ring, with the four on the left 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. | ||||
 |
San Marino |
World Year of Physics 2005 | 130,000 coins | 14 October 2005 |
| Description: The centre of the coin contains a free interpretation of the allegorical painting of Galileo Galilei known as La fisica antica or The Study of the Planets. The year mark is inscribed below a globe standing on a desk. The mint mark (R) is to the right of the image, while the engraver’s initials (LDS) appear on the left. The inscription SAN MARINO is aligned in a semicircle above the image, while the inscription ANNO MONDIALE DELLA FISICA 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. | ||||
 |
Finland |
60th Anniversary of the Establishment of the United Nations 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 showing a dove of peace. 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. | ||||
 |
Italy |
1st Anniversary of the Signing of the European Constitution | 18 million coins | 29 October 2005 |
| Description: The centre of the coin features Europa and the bull (Zeus), together with the European Constitution; Europa is holding a pen over it, symbolising its signing. The mint mark (R) is to the upper right of the image, the engraver's ( Maria Carmela Colaneri) initials (MCC) to the lower right, and the year mark is to the upper left. The monogram of the Italian Republic (RI) is at the bottom of the centre part, slightly to the right. The outer ring features the inscription COSTITUZIONE EUROPEA, forming almost a full semicircle, while the remainder of the outer ring is taken up by the twelve stars of the European Union. | ||||
 |
Vatican City |
20th World Youth Day, held in Cologne in August 2005 | 100,000 coins | 6 December 2005 |
| Description: The centre of the coin contains the Cologne Cathedral and a comet passing by above it. The inscription XX GIORNATA MONDIALE DELLA GIOVENTÙ is written in the upper part of the centre, separated by the tail of the comet and two of the cathedral's spires, one of which extends into the outer ring. The outer ring contains the inscription CITTÀ DEL VATICANO 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. | ||||
2006 coinage
| Image | Country | Feature | Volume | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Luxembourg |
25th Birthday of Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume | 1.1 million coins | 1 February 2006 |
| Description: The coin depicts the effigy of Grand Duke Henri on the left side of the inner part, superimposed on the effigy of Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume on the right side; both are looking to the left. The year mark appears below the effigies, flanked by the letter S and the mint mark. The inscription LËTZEBUERG 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. | ||||
 |
 Germany |
Holstentor in Lübeck ( Schleswig-Holstein) 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 SCHLESWIG–HOLSTEIN below the gate at the bottom of the centre part. The mint mark is to the right, while the designer's initials (HH) are to the left. The inscription BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND 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. | ||||
 |
Italy |
Winter Olympics in Turin 2006 | 40 million coins | 10 February 2006 |
| Description: The coin depicts a racing skier and the visitor attraction of Turin, the Mole Antonelliana (which incidentally is also depicted on the Italian 2 cent coin), together with a large number of inscriptions: above the skier's head, GIOCHI INVERNALI ("Winter Games"); below the tower, the name of the host city TORINO; beside the skier's left thigh, the engraver's intials (MCC); also to the left of the skier, the year mark (written vertically); and finally, to the left 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. | ||||
 |
Belgium |
Renovation of the Atomium in Brussels | 5 million coins | 10 April 2006 |
| Description: The coin shows the Atomium in the centre part, with the mint marks to the lower left and right of it. The designer's initials (LL) are to the right. 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. | ||||
 |
Finland |
1st Centenary of the Introduction of Universal and Equal Suffrage | 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. The two mint marks appear to the right of each face. On the right side, the date of the introduction of universal and equal suffrage in Finland (1. 10. 1906) is inscribed, while the left 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. | ||||
 |
San Marino |
500th Anniversary of the Death of Christopher Columbus | 120,000 coins | 17 October 2006 |
| Description: A portrait of Christopher Columbus (looking to the left) before a background of the three caravels (the Niña, the Pinta and the Santa María), which he used in his first voyage across the Atlantic Ocean 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, in the centre is the mint mark R, and at the bottom is a cartouche 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. | ||||
Six €2 commemorative coins have been released in 2006 as at 17 October 2006, and one more state has announced it will do so over the course of the year. The Vatican City is going to issue its third coin, commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Swiss Guard, on 9 November 2006.
2007 coinage
Apart from the second coin of the German Bundesländer series, there are plans for a common €2 commemorative coin issued by all thirteen member states of the eurozone to be issued in March, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the signature of the Treaties of Rome. Furthermore, Portugal will issue their first coin to commemorate their presidency of the Council of the European Union and San Marino will issue their fourth coin in September to commemorate Giuseppe Garibaldi's 200th birthday.
German Bundesländer series
Germany started the commemorative coin series Die 16 Bundesländer der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (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 first coin was issued in 2006:
| Year | Number | State | Design |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 |  Schleswig-Holstein |
Holstentor in Lübeck |
The other fifteen 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 Hamburg and Bavaria were to be the Landungsbrücken ( German Wikipedia article) and the Munich Frauenkirche, respectively.)
| Year | Number | State | Design |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 2 |  Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania |
Schwerin Castle |
| 2008 | 3 |  Hamburg |
St. Michaelis |
| 2009 | 4 |  Saarland |
Ludwigskirche in Saarbrücken ( German Wikipedia article) |
| 2010 | 5 |  Bremen |
City Hall ( German Wikipedia article) |
| 2011 | 6 |  North Rhine-Westphalia |
Cologne Cathedral |
| 2012 | 7 |  Bavaria |
Schloss Neuschwanstein |
| 2013 | 8 |  Baden-Württemberg |
Maulbronn Abbey |
| 2014 | 9 |  Lower Saxony |
Hanover City Hall ( German Wikipedia article) |
| 2015 | 10 |  Hesse |
Römer in Frankfurt am Main |
| 2016 | 11 |  Saxony |
Zwinger Palace in Dresden |
| 2017 | 12 |  Rhineland-Palatinate |
Porta Nigra in Trier |
| 2018 | 13 |  Berlin |
Reichstag |
| 2019 | 14 |  Saxony-Anhalt |
Cathedral of Magdeburg |
| 2020 | 15 |  Thuringia |
Wartburg Castle in Eisenach |
| 2021 | 16 |  Brandenburg |
Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam |
The series is similar to the United States' State Quarters series, which issues coin at shorter intervals and will continue until 2008, having started in 1999; the longer timespan and shorter intervals are a consequence of the larger number of states (currently fifty).