2 euro coins
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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- See also: €2 commemorative coins
2 euro coins (€2) are made of an inner coin and an outer ring. The inner part is made of three layers nickel brass, brass and nickel brass. The outer part is made of cupronickel. They have a diameter of 25.75 mm, a 2.20 mm thickness and a mass of 8.5 grams. The coins' edges vary between national issues. Most are finely ribbed with edge lettering. All coins have a common reverse side and country-specific national sides.
 Common side of all €2 coins minted before 2007 |
.png/120px-EUR_2_(2007_issue).png) Common side of all €2 coins minted from 2007 onwards |
[edit] National edges
| Country | Edge inscription | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Austria |  |
The sequence "2 EURO ***" repeated four times alternately upright and inverted. |
| Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Monaco, Spain |  |
The sequence "2 * *" repeated six times alternately upright and inverted. |
| Cyprus |  |
The sequence "2 ΕΥΡΩ 2 EURO" repeated twice ("2 EURO" in Greek and Turkish). |
| Finland |  |
"SUOMI FINLAND" ("FINLAND" in Finnish and Swedish, the two official languages in Finland), followed by three lion's heads. |
| Germany |  |
"EINIGKEIT UND RECHT UND FREIHEIT" ("UNITY AND JUSTICE AND FREEDOM" in German), Germany's national motto and the beginning of Germany's national anthem, followed by the Federal Eagle. |
| Greece |  |
"ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ *" (ELLENIKE DEMOKRATIA: "HELLENIC REPUBLIC" in Greek). |
| Italy, San Marino, Vatican |  |
The sequence "2 *" repeated six times alternately upright and inverted. |
| Malta |  |
The sequence "2**" repeated six times alternately upright and inverted, where "*" is replaced by a Maltese cross instead of the simple five-pointed star usually used. |
| Netherlands |  |
"GOD * ZIJ * MET * ONS *" ("GOD BE WITH US" in Dutch). The same lettering had been applied to the larger denomination guilder coins. |
| Portugal |  |
The edge design features the seven castles and five coats of arms also found on the national side, all equally spaced. |
| Slovenia |  |
"SLOVENIJA*" ("SLOVENIA" in Slovene), where "*" is replaced by an engraved dot instead of the five-pointed star usually used. |
[edit] National sides
 Austria: Bertha von Suttner, the Austrian radical pacifist and Nobel Peace Prize winner. |
 Belgium: Effigy and monogram of King Albert II |
 Cyprus: The Idol of Pomos |
 Finland: The fruit and leaves of the cloudberry, designed by Raimo Heino. |
 France: A stylised tree contained in a hexagon† with the national motto, Liberté, égalité, fraternité. |
 Germany: Interpretation of the coat of arms of Germany, the German eagle. |
 Ireland: The Cláirseach, a traditional Irish harp. |
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 Italy: Portrait of Dante Alighieri by the painter Raphael |
 Luxembourg: Effigy of Grand Duke Henri |
 Malta: The Maltese cross |
 Monaco: Effigy of Prince Albert II |
 Netherlands: Portrait of Queen Beatrix, her title vertically shown as in the former guilder coin. |
 San Marino: Government building (Palazzo Pubblico) |
 Slovenia: France Prešeren and the first line of the 7th stanza of Zdravljica, the Slovenian national anthem. |
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 Spain: Effigy of King Juan Carlos I |
 Vatican: Effigy of Pope Benedict XVI |
[edit] Notes
† As France is broadly hexagonal, l'hexagone is often used as slang to refer to France.
[edit] Former designs
Designs still in circulation but no longer minted:
 Monaco: Effigy of Prince Rainier III |
 Vatican: Effigy of Pope John Paul II |
 Vatican: Issued during the Sede vacante period. Insignia of the Apostolic Chamber and the coat of arms of the Cardinal Chamberlain |
 Finland: 1st Series (1999–2006) |
 Belgium: 1st Series (1999–2007) |
[edit] Planned designs
Planned designs to come into circulation once the members who designed them adopt the euro. The dates shown below are tentative and have not been confirmed. They have been mentioned in the media and several other sources, but are subject to change.
 Slovakia: The Coat of arms of Slovakia, the Double Cross on Three Hills. Introduction currently planned in 2009. |
 Lithuania: The Vytis, the Coat of arms of Lithuania. Introduction currently planned in 2010. |
See Enlargement of the eurozone for more details of the schedule for these and other countries.
[edit] External links
- National sides of €2 coins. European Central Bank. Retrieved on 2007-01-03.
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