€2 commemorative coins

The new reverse side of all €2 coins from 2007/08 onwards.

The old reverse side for €2 coins minted before 2007/08.

€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 2008, fifty 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) and ten in 2008. At least six more are planned to be minted in 2009 (plus a second common issue, with sixteen states to participate, as Slovakia joins the eurozone on 1 January 2009). €2 commemorative coins have become collectibles. The €2 commemorative coins are not to be confused with commemorative coins (with a face value higher than €2), which are officially designated as "collector coins" and usually made of precious metal.^[1]

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The basis for the commemorative coins derived from a decision of the European Council, which repealed the prohibition of changing the national obverse sides of euro coins from 1 January 2004 onwards.^[2] However, a number of recommendations and restrictions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 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.) The moratorium on these changes will be reviewed for extension in 2008.

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:^[3]

• 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^[4] 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 rules (Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany and Greece) will have to change their design in the near future, which Finland already did for 2007^[5] and Belgium for 2008.

Issues

     has issued €2 commem. coins      has not yet indep. issued €2 commem. coins      not part of the eurozone

As of November 2008, fourteen countries have independently issued €2 commemorative coins (Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain and the Vatican City), with Greece being the first country to issue this type of coin. Four eurozone countries have not yet independently issued such coins (Cyprus, Ireland, Malta and the Netherlands); there has also been common Treaty of Rome €2 commemorative coin issued by all eurozone member states in 2007. (Another one is planned for 2009.)

Country	Issues	2004	2005	2006	2007		2008	2009
					reg.	ToR		reg.	euro
Austria	2/1		Y			Y			S
Belgium	4/1		Y	Y		Y	Y		S
Cyprus	0/1								S
Finland	6/1	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		S
France	2/1					Y	Y		S
Germany	4/2			Y	Y	Y	Y	S	S
Greece	2/1	Y				Y			S
Ireland	1/1					Y			S
Italy	5/1	Y	Y	Y		Y	Y		S
Luxembourg	6/2	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	S	S
Malta	0/1								S
Monaco	1/0				Y
Netherlands	1/1					Y			S
Portugal	3/2				Y	Y	Y	S	S
San Marino	5/1	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y	S
Slovakia	0/2							S	S
Slovenia	2/1					Y	Y		S
Spain	2/1		Y			Y			S
Vatican City	5/1	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y	S
Total	51/22	6	8	7	7	13	10	0/6	0/16
Y – yes      not yet part of the eurozone      no      S – scheduled

The face value of the coins is typically less than their market 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	14 March 2004[6]
	Description: The Discobolus (a classical Greek sculpture by Myron) is depicted in the centre of the coin. To the right[7] of it is the logo of the Olympic games (ATHENS 2004) and the five Olympic Rings, while to the left[7] 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[7] of the statue's head.[8]
	Finland	Fifth Enlargement of the European Union in 2004	1 million coins	FDI:[9] 1 June 2004 FDC:[10] 1 July 2004[11]
	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[7] 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.[12]
	Luxembourg	Effigy and Monogram of Grand Duke Henri	2.49 million coins	23 June 2004[13]
	Description: On the right[7] side of the centre part of the coin, the effigy of Grand Duke Henri is depicted, looking to the left.[7] The left[7] side displays his monogram (the letter H topped with a crown). The twelve stars of the European Union are also on the left[7] 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.[14]
	Italy	Fifth Decade of the World Food Programme	16 million coins	15 December 2004[15]
	Description: In the centre of the coin is a globe, tilted to the left.[7] 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[7] 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[7] 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.[16]
	San Marino	Bartolomeo Borghesi	110,000 coins	15 December 2004[17]
	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[7] of the bust, BARTOLOMEO BORGHESI, the mint mark (R) and the engraver's initials (E.L.F.) to the right[7] of it. On the outer ring, the coin displays the twelve stars of the European Union and the year mark (bottom centre).[18]
	Vatican City	75th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Vatican City State	85,000 coins	15 December 2004[19]
	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[7]), 1929–2004 and the mint mark (R) (both to the left[7]). 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[7] in smaller print. The outer ring is adorned by the twelve stars of the European Union and the inscription CITTÀ DEL VATICANO.[20]

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 January 2005[21]
	Description: In the centre of the coin, the effigies of the Grand Dukes Henri and Adolphe are displayed, both looking to the left,[7] 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 effigies. 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 S (for Suomi) on the right[7] and the mint mark on the left.[7][22]
	Belgium	Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union	6 million coins	FDI:[9] 1 March 2005 FDC:[10] 1 April 2005[23]
	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.[7] The engraver's initials (LL) are in the lower left,[7] 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 right[7] and the monogram of King Albert II to the left.[7][24]
	Spain	4th Centenary of the first edition of Miguel de Cervantes' El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha	8 million coins	1 April 2005[25]
	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[7] 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[7] 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.[26]
	Austria	50th Anniversary of the Austrian State Treaty	7 million coins	11 May 2005[27]
	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.[28]
	San Marino	World Year of Physics 2005	130,000 coins	14 October 2005[29]
	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[7] of the image, while the engraver’s initials (LDS) appear on the left.[7] 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.[30]
	Finland	60th Anniversary of the Establishment of the United Nations and 50th Anniversary of Finland's UN Membership	2 million coins	25 October 2005[31]
	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.[32]
	Italy	1st Anniversary of the Signing of the European Constitution	18 million coins	29 October 2005[33]
	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[7] of the image, the engraver's (Maria Carmela Colaneri) initials (MCC) to the lower right,[7] and the year mark is to the upper left.[7] The monogram of the Italian Republic (RI) is at the bottom of the centre part, slightly to the right.[7] 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.[34]
	Vatican City	20th World Youth Day, held in Cologne in August 2005	100,000 coins	6 December 2005[35]
	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.[36]

2006 coinage

Image	Country	Feature	Volume	Date
	Italy	Winter Olympics in Turin 2006	40 million coins	FDI:[9]10 January 2006 FDC:[10] 10 February 2006[37]
	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[7] thigh, the engraver's initials (MCC); also to the left[7] of the skier, the year mark (written vertically); and finally, to the left[7] 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.[38]
	Luxembourg	25th Birthday of Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume	1.1 million coins	11 January 2006[39]
	Description: The coin depicts the effigy of Grand Duke Henri on the left[7] side of the inner part, superimposed on the effigy of Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume on the right[7] side; both are looking to the left.[7] 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.[40]
	Germany	Holstentor in Lübeck (Schleswig-Holstein) First of the Bundesländer series	30 million coins	3 February 2006[41]
	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,[7] while the designer's initials (HH) are to the left.[7] 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.[42]
	Belgium	Renovation of the Atomium in Brussels	5 million coins	10 April 2006[43]
	Description: The coin shows the Atomium in the centre part, with the mint marks to the lower left[7] and right[7] of it. The designer's initials (LL) are to the right.[7] 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.[44]
	Finland	1st Centenary of the Introduction of Universal and Equal Suffrage	2.5 million coins	4 October 2006[45]
	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 right[7] of each face, one of them the mint mark and the other one the artist's initial. On the right[7] side, the date of the introduction of universal and equal suffrage in Finland (1. 10. 1906) is inscribed, while the left[7] 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.[46]
	San Marino	500th Anniversary of the Death of Christopher Columbus	120,000 coins	17 October 2006[47]
	Description: A portrait of Christopher Columbus (looking to the left[7]) 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.[48]
	Vatican City	500th Anniversary of the Swiss Guard	100,000 coins	9 November 2006[49]
	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 left[7] 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 right[7] and the year mark 2006 and the mint mark R to his left.[7] The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin.[50]

2007 coinage

Image	Country	Feature	Volume	Date
	Germany	Schwerin Castle (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) Second of the Bundesländer series	30 million coins	2 February 2007[51]
	Description: The centre part of the coin shows a representation of Schwerin Castle. The inscription MECKLENBURG–VORPOMMERN 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.[52]
	Luxembourg	Grand Ducal Palace	1.1 million coins	2 February 2007[53]
	Description: The inner part of the coin design is divided into two halves: The left side[7] shows Grand Duke Henri (looking to the right[7]), while the Grand Ducal Palace is shown on the right side.[7] 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 LËTZEBUERG 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.[54]
	Vatican City	80th Birthday of Pope Benedict XVI	100,000 coins	FDI:[9] 16 April 2007 FDC:[10] 1 October 2007[55]
	Description: The inner part of the coin features a bust of Pope Benedict XVI in profile facing to the right.[7] The legend BENEDICTI XVI P.M. AETATIS ANNO LXXX CITTÀ DEL VATICANO is engraved surrounding the portrait. On the left hand side,[7] the mintmark R, the year mark and the initials of the engraver M.C.C. INC. are written, while the right hand side[7] shows the name of the author LONGO. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin.[56]
	Portugal	Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union	2 million coins	FDI:[9] 1 June 2007 FDC:[10] 1 July 2007[57]
	Description: The inner part of the coin shows a cork oak (Quercus suber) taking up most of the coin's design; under the branches, on the left hand side,[7] is the coat of arms of Portugal and on the right hand side the word POR TU GAL written over three lines. The inscription 2007 PRESIDÊNCIA DO CONSELHO DA UE is written in a semicircle along the bottom of the inner part, with the artist's signature on the left[7] and the mint mark near the coat of arms. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin.[58]
	Monaco	25th Anniversary of the Death of Grace Kelly	20,001 coins	1 July 2007[59]
	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.[60]
	San Marino	200th Birthday of Giuseppe Garibaldi	130,000 coins	9 October 2007[61]
	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 right and left sides respectively.[7] The mint mark R and the initials of the author Ettore Lorenzo Frapiccini, E.L.F., appear on the left side[7] of the inner circle. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin.[62]
	Finland	90th Anniversary of Finland's Independence	2 million coins	1 December 2007[63]
	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 right[7] side, and the inscription FI on the left[7] side. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin.[64]

2007 commonly issued coin

Image	Country	Feature	Volume	Date
	European Union	50th Anniversary of the Signature of the Treaty of Rome	87.453 million coins	25 March 2007[65]
	Description: The centre part of the coin shows the treaty signed by the original six member states of the European Coal and Steel Community, on a background symbolising Michelangelo's paving on the Piazza del Campidoglio in Rome 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.)[66]
Image	Country		Volume
	Austria		9 million coins
	Inscription: VERTRAG VON ROM 50 JAHRE, EUROPA, REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH
	Belgium		5 million coins
	Inscription: PACTVM ROMANVM QVINQVAGENARIVM, EUROPEA, BELGIQUE–BELGIE–BELGIEN
	Finland		1.4 million coins
	Inscription: ROOMAN SOPIMUS 50 V, EUROOPPA, SUOMI FINLAND
	France		9.4 million coins
	Inscription: TRAITÉ DE ROME 50 ANS, EUROPE, RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE
	Germany		30 million coins
	Inscription: RÖMISCHE VERTRÄGE 50 JAHRE, EUROPA, BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND
	Greece		4 million coins
	Inscription: ΣΥΝΘΗΚΗ ΤΗΣ ΡΩΜΗΣ 50 XPONIA, EYPΩΠΗ, ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ
	Ireland		4.82 million coins
	Inscription: CONRADH NA RÓIMHE 50 BLIAIN, AN EORAIP, ÉIRE[67]
	Italy		5 million coins
	Inscription: TRATTATI DI ROMA 50° ANNIVERSARIO, EUROPA, REPUBBLICA ITALIANA
	Luxembourg		2.1 million coins
	Inscription: TRAITÉ DE ROME 50 ANS, EUROPE, LËTZEBUERG
	Netherlands		6.333 million coins
	Inscription: VERDRAG VAN ROME 50 JAAR, EUROPA, KONINKRIJK DER NEDERLANDEN
	Portugal		2 million coins
	Inscription: TRATADO DE ROMA 50 ANOS, EUROPA, PORTUGAL
	Slovenia		400,000 coins
	Inscription: RIMSKA POGODBA 50 LET, EVROPA, SLOVENIJA
	Spain		8 million coins
	Inscription: TRATADO DE ROMA 50 AÑOS, EUROPA, ESPAÑA
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).[68] A similar Dutch law, which requires the portrait of the current head of state of the Netherlands and the words NAME (Koning/Koningin) der Nederlanden to appear on all coins issued by the Netherlands (for example, currently Beatrix Koningin der Nederlanden) 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 PACTVM ROMANVM QVINQVAGENARIVM in Latin. The three micro-states which also use the euro due to an official agreement with the European Union (Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican City) 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 issued a £1 coin and Hungary a 50 Ft coin with the same design.

2008 coinage

Image	Country	Feature	Volume	Date
	Germany	St. Michaelis' Church (Hamburg) Third of the Bundesländer series	30 million coins	1 February 2008[69]
	Description: The inner part of the coin shows St. Michaelis's Church in Hamburg. The name of the federal State HAMBURG is inscribed beneath the image of the church. To the left[7] 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.[70]
	Luxembourg	Berg Castle	1.3 million coins	2 February 2008[71]
	Description: The inner part of the coin shows, in the foreground on the right[7] side the effigy of Grand Duke Henri looking to the left[7] and in the background on the left[7] side the picture of Berg Castle. 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.[72]
	Italy	60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights	5 million coins	April 2008[73]
	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 right[7] the year mark; to the left[7] 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.[74]
	San Marino	European Year of Intercultural Dialogue	130,000 coins	April 2008[75]
	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 right,[7] the mint mark. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin.[76]
	Belgium	60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights	5 million coins	April/May 2008[77]
	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 semi-circle 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.[78]
	Slovenia	500th Birthday of Primož Trubar	1 million coins	May 2008[79]
	Description: The inner part of the coin depicts an effigy of Primož Trubar in right profile. On the right[7] the inscriptions PRIMOŽ TRUBAR and 1508–1586 appear in two semi-circles, and towards the bottom left[7] SLOVENIJA 2008 is inscribed (also in a semi-circle). The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin.[80]
	France	French Presidency of the Council of the European Union	20 million coins	July 2008[81]
	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.[82]
	Portugal	60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights	600,000 coins	15 September 2008[83]
	Description: The inner part of the coin features the Portuguese coat of arms 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.[84]
	Vatican City	2008 – Year of Saint Paul the Apostle	100,000 coins	5 September 2008[85]
	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 right side,[7] an inscription denoting the issuing country CITTÀ DEL VATICANO; on the left side,[7] the legend ANNO SANCTO PAULO DICATO. The year mark is inscribed to the left[7] 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.[86]
	Finland	60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights	1.5 million coins	October 2008[87]
	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.[88]

2009 coinage

Image	Country	Feature	Volume	Date
	Luxembourg	90th Anniversary of Grand Duchess Charlotte's Accession to the Throne	1 million coins	February 2009
	Description: Forthcoming.
	Germany	Ludwigskirche in Saarbrücken (Saarland) Fourth of the Bundesländer series	30 million coins	2 February 2009[89]
	Description: Forthcoming.
	Slovakia	20th Anniversary of the Start of the Velvet Revolution	1 million coins	17 November 2009
	Description: Forthcoming.
	San Marino	European Year of Creativity and Innovation	unknown	September 2009
	Description: Forthcoming.
	Portugal	2009 Lusophony Games	1.285 million coins	2009
	Description: Forthcoming.
	Vatican City	International Year of Astronomy	1.285 million coins	2009
	Description: Forthcoming.

2009 commonly issued coin

Image	Country	Feature	Volume	Date
	European Union	10th Anniversary of the Introduction of the Euro.	90 million coins	1 January 2009[90]
	Description: The coin shows a stick figure which merges into the € symbol. It seeks to convey the idea of the single currency and, by extension, the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) being the latest step in Europe's long history of trade and economic integration. The coin will be issued by each eurozone country and show the name of the country (not depicted here) as well as the legend EMU 1999–2009 in the respective language or languages. It was designed by George Stamatopoulos, a sculptor from the minting department at the Bank of Greece. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin.[91]
The final design of the coin was chosen by electronic voting from 2008-01-31 to 2008-02-22, with the result announced on 2008-02-25. The designs were pre-selected by the national mint directors of the eurozone.[92] 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.[93]

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.^[94] The coins issued are:

Year	Number	State	Design
2006	1	Schleswig-Holstein	Holstentor in Lübeck
2007	2	Mecklenburg-Vorpommern	Schwerin Castle
2008	3	Hamburg	St. Michaelis Church

The other thirteen 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:^[94]

• Hamburg: Landungsbrücken
• Bremen: City Hall only
• Bavaria: Munich Frauenkirche
• Lower Saxony: Hanover New City Hall, then St. Michael's Church in Hildesheim
• Hesse: Römer in Frankfurt am Main
• Berlin: Reichstag

Year	Number	State	Design
2009	4	Saarland	Ludwigskirche in Saarbrücken
2010	5	Bremen	City Hall and Roland
2011	6	North Rhine-Westphalia	Cologne Cathedral
2012	7	Bavaria	Neuschwanstein Castle near Füssen
2013	8	Baden-Württemberg	Maulbronn Abbey
2014	9	Lower Saxony	St. Andrew's Church in Hildesheim
2015	10	Hesse	Paulskirche in Frankfurt am Main
2016	11	Saxony	Zwinger Palace in Dresden
2017	12	Rhineland-Palatinate	Porta Nigra in Trier
2018	13	Berlin	Charlottenburg Palace
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' 50 State Quarters series, which is issuing fifty coins for its fifty constituent states, five per year between 1999 and 2008, plus six more in 2009 for the District of Columbia and five territories of the United States.

Notes

References

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