The euro (EUR or €) is the currency of 13 European Union (EU) member states (Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, and Spain), three European microstates which have currency agreements with the EU (Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican City State), Andorra, Montenegro and the Kosovo province of Serbia. ISO 4217 Code EUR User(s) Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Luxembourg, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Vatican City Inflation 1. ... The European microstates are a handful of very small sovereign states on the European continent and the surrounding islands. ... The State of the City of the Vatican or the Vatican City (Latin: Status Civitatis Vaticanae, Italian Stato della Città del Vaticano) is the smallest independent state in the world (both in area and in population), a landlocked enclave surrounded by the city of Rome in Italy. ... Anthem Oj, svijetla majska zoro Oh, the bright dawn of May Montenegro() on the European continent()  —  [] Capital (and largest city) Podgorica Official languages Serbian (Ijekavian dialect)1 Government Republic  -  President Filip Vujanović  -  Prime Minister Željko Å turanović Independence due to the dissolution of Serbia and Montenegro   -  Declared June 3, 2006   -  Recognised... For uses of the name Kosova, see Kosova (disambiguation). ... Anthem Serbia() on the European continent() Capital (and largest city) Belgrade Official languages Serbian written with the Cyrillic alphabet1 Government Parliamentary republic  -  President Boris Tadić  -  Prime Minister Vojislav KoÅ¡tunica Establishment  -  Formation 8th century   -  Independence c. ...

Euro coins and banknotes (see euro banknotes) came into circulation on January 1, 2002. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A £20 Bank of England banknote. ... The euro sign in its official logo form. ... January 1 is the first day of the calendar year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ...

One euro is divided into 100 cents and there are eight different denominations.

Normal issues

All coins have a common reverse side showing how much the coin is worth, with a design by Belgian designer Luc Luyckx. The design of the 1-, 2-, and 5-cent coins symbolises Western Europe's place in the world as a whole. 1 cent euro coins are made of a steel core plated with copper. ... A millimetre (American spelling: millimeter, symbol mm) is an SI unit of length that is equal to one thousandth of a metre. ... BIC pen cap, about 1 gram. ... The steel cable of a colliery winding tower. ... General Name, Symbol, Number copper, Cu, 29 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 4, d Appearance metallic pinkish red Standard atomic weight 63. ... 2 cent euro coins are made of a steel core plated with copper. ... 5 cent euro coins are made of a steel core plated with copper. ... 10 cent euro coins are made of copper alloy (Nordic gold). ... An alloy is a combination, either in solution or compound, of two or more elements, at least one of which is a metal, and where the resulting material has metallic properties. ... Nordic gold is the alloy from which the middle three denominations of euro coins, 50 cent, 20 cent, and 10 cent coins are made. ... 20 cent euro coins are made of copper alloy (Nordic gold). ... The Spanish flower is a type of coin edging. ... 50 cent euro coins are made of copper alloy (Nordic gold). ... 1 euro coins are made of two alloys: the inner part of cupronickel, the outer part of nickel brass. ... Cupronickel is an alloy of copper, nickel and strengthening impurities, such as iron and manganese. ... Brass is any alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses, each of which has unique properties[1]. Note that in comparison bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin. ... 2 euro coins are made of two alloys: the inner part of nickel brass, the outer part of cupronickel. ... The term obverse, and its opposite, reverse, describe the two sides of units of currency and many other kinds of two-sided objects, most often in reference to coins, but also to medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art. ...

The year featured in the coins can date back to 1999, when the currency was formally established (only on French, Spanish, Belgian, Finnish and Dutch coins using the first design). These countries traditionally put on the coin the year when it was minted rather than the year in which it was put into circulation.

The coins were minted in several of the participating countries, many using blanks produced at Birmingham Mint, Birmingham, England. A problem has arisen in differentiation of coins made using similar blanks and minting techniques. The Turkish 1 Lira coin resembles very much the 2-euro coin in both weight and size, and both coins seem to be recognised and accepted by slot machines as being a 2-euro coin, which is roughly worth 4 times more. However there are now vending machines which have been upgraded to refuse the 1-lira coin. The Birmingham Mint in Birmingham, England was established in 1794 in Slaney Street by Ralph Heaton I, using second-hand coin presses bought from the estate of Matthew Boulton. ... Birmingham (pron. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem God Save the King (Queen) England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto) Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Queen Queen Elizabeth II  -  Prime Minister Tony Blair MP Unification  -  by Athelstan 967  Area... TRY banknotes and coins The new Turkish lira is the current currency of Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. ...

Current issues (common side)

€0.01	€0.02	€0.05
€0.10	€0.20	€0.50
€1.00	€2.00

In 2007, a new design was introduced which shows a map of Europe 'as a continent' rather than just the individual member states as previously. The vertical ridges only appear over the 'sea'. Image of euro coinage. ... Image of euro coinage. ... Image of euro coinage. ... Image File history File links 10eurocent(neu). ... Image File history File links 20eurocent(neu). ... Image File history File links 50eurocent(neu). ... Image File history File links 1euro(neu). ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

The first coins with this front design were minted in 2006 (by the Mint of Finland Ltd) for Slovenia, which adopted the currency formally in 2007 (see Slovenian euro coins). Older eurozone member states will introduce this design in 2007, being compulsory from 2008 onwards. On January 1, 2007, Slovenia is expected to replace its national currency, the tolar, with the euro. ...

The 1999 design of the 1c, 2c and 5c was kept with the borders of Western Europe (without the new member states).

All coins feature 12 stars in their design.

For details about pre-2007 issues read Original Designs The euro (EUR or €) is the currency of 13 European Union (EU) member states (Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, and Spain), three European microstates which have currency agreements with the EU (Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican City State), Andorra, Montenegro and the...

Obverse side / national side

Reverse side of a 2002 issued cent coin showing use-wear

Each country participating in the euro has its own design on the national side of the coin. These designs vary from simply depicting the same design on all coins (e.g. Belgium) to a different design for every coin (e.g. Italy). However, all coins again feature 12 stars in some way or another on this side as well. In nations that are monarchies, the national side usually features a portrait of the country's monarch, often in a design carried over from the former currency. Non-monarchical countries often feature more stylised graphics of things such as national monuments or symbols. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 587 × 600 pixels Full resolution (2446 × 2500 pixel, file size: 2. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 587 × 600 pixels Full resolution (2446 × 2500 pixel, file size: 2. ... For related meanings see also Monarch (disambiguation) A monarchy, (from the Greek monos archein, meaning one ruler) is a form of government that has a monarch as Head of State. ...

Member states must keep their national obverse for five years. There are some exceptions, though. If the head of state of a country dies or abdicates, coins depicting the new one may be minted. Also, member states are allowed to produce a limited number of €2 commemorative coins [1]. The new reverse side of all €2 coins from 2007 onwards. ...

There are no plans to move to common obverse issues in the near future for normal issues. Still, in 2007 a €2 commemorative coin will be issued by all member states of the eurozone, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the signature of the Treaties of Rome. The obverse will vary depending on the name of the issuing country.

Though they are not members of the EU, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City (but not Andorra) also have euro coins featuring a national side, but these only occasionally end up in general circulation as their scarcity leads to greater interest from coin collectors. This article is about a hobby. ...

Small denomination coins

Finland does not issue any 1- and 2-cent coins, apart from in collector's sets. All cash prices are rounded to the nearest 5 cents, negating any need for the coins. Although the coins are not readily encountered in Finland, it is still legal to use them.

Similarly, The Netherlands have also practically decommissioned the 1- and 2-cent coins, pressured by the retail business who claim dealing with 1- and 2-cent coins is too expensive. After a successful experiment in shops in the city of Woerden in May 2004, retailers in the whole of the Netherlands have been permitted to round cash transactions to the nearest 5-cent amount since September 2004. Even though the 1- and 2-cent coins have become very uncommon now, they remain official currency and a valid method of payment. Motto: Je Maintiendrai (Dutch: Ik zal handhaven, English: I Shall Uphold) Anthem: Wilhelmus van Nassouwe Capital Amsterdam1 Largest city Amsterdam Official language(s) Dutch2 Government Parliamentary democracy Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Beatrix  - Prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende Independence Eighty Years War   - Declared July 26, 1581   - Recognised January 30, 1648 (by Spain... Woerden is a municipality and a city in the central Netherlands. ...

In general, if a country decides not to mint these denominations, coins from other member states will remain legal tender. This is the case in Finland and The Netherlands in present times. However, as the "foreign" monetary mass is lower than the internal, the number of 1- and 2-cent coins would stay marginal, hencefore, not being a great concern for most retailers.

Special coin features for people with impaired sight

2c, 10c and 20c coins,
showing their unique edges.

Euro coins were designed in cooperation with organisations representing blind persons, and as a result they incorporate many features allowing them to be distinguished by touch alone. In addition, their visual appearance is designed to make them easy to tell apart for persons who cannot read the actual inscriptions on the coins. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1728x1165, 1152 KB) Beschreibung Description: Macro shot of European 2c, 10c and 20c coins to show the variing edges (from left to right). ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1728x1165, 1152 KB) Beschreibung Description: Macro shot of European 2c, 10c and 20c coins to show the variing edges (from left to right). ... Blindness is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or psychological factors. ...

The coins increase in size and weight with value. Of the seven denominations of euro coins, the three lowest denominations are small and distinctly reddish in colour, and quite thin and light. The next three denominations are yellow in colour and thicker, as well as heavier. The highest two denominations are each of two different colours, and are generally larger and thicker than the lower denominations.

In general, the greater the value, the heavier the coin; and the greater the value, the larger the coin. Reddish colour identifies low values; yellow colour identifies medium values; two different colours identify high values.

• The one-cent coin is the smallest of all coins, and size is probably the best way to identify the coin. Its diameter is about the size of the thumb-nail of an average adult. The edge of the coin is smooth, and the coin is copper in colour.

• The two-cent coin is noticeably slightly larger than the one-cent coin and is of the same copper colour. It incorporates a distinctive groove running circumferentially around the edge of the coin; this groove can be felt easily by running the finger tip or a fingernail across the edge of the coin; the groove gives the visual and tactile impression of two coins pressed into one, although it is actually a single coin.

• The five-cent coin is also copper colour, and is the largest of the copper coins, but only slightly larger than the two-cent coin. It has a smooth edge.

• The ten-cent coin is gold in colour. It is very slightly smaller than a five-cent piece, but it is much thicker, and it has a coarse serration around the edge. It is also heavier than any of the copper coins.

• The twenty-cent coin is larger than the ten-cent coin and is also gold in colour. It has a unique group of seven notches (forming a spanish flower shape) around the otherwise-smooth edge, making it easy to recognise by touch.

• The fifty-cent coin is also gold in colour and is noticeably thicker, heavier, and larger than the smaller coins, and it has a coarsely serrated edge.

• The one-euro coin has a silver interior and a gold perimeter. The edge is distinctively marked with alternating smooth and finely serrated sections. The coin is of about the same thickness and weight as the fifty-cent piece, but its edge markings make it easy to tell apart from this latter coin.

• The two-euro coin is of two colours also, but they are the opposite of the one-euro coin, since the perimeter is silver, and the interior is gold. It has the largest diameter of any euro coin. The edge has a fine, continuous serration. The edge is also embossed with stars and letters differing between nations, but this is difficult to detect by touch, and it isn't necessary to do so in order to distinguish the coin from other coins.

Although there have been other currencies predating the euro that were specifically designed in similar ways (different sizes, colours, and ridges) to aid the visually impaired, the introduction of the euro constitutes the first time that authorities have consulted associations representing the blind before, rather than after, the release of the currency. The Spanish flower is a type of coin edging. ...

Original Designs

€0.10	€0.20	€0.50
€1.00	€2.00

The original designs of the 10-, 20-, and 50-cent coins showed the EU-15 member states coming together. However, each state was shown as separate from the others, giving Europe an appearance of being formed of many islands. EU members which were not initially part of the eurozone were also depicted (UK, Sweden, Denmark). Image of euro coinage. ... Image of euro coinage. ... Image of euro coinage. ... Image of euro coinage. ... Image of euro coinage. ...

On the €1 and €2 coins, the landmass appeared more cohesive although borders were indicated. The vertical ridges also passed through some non-participating countries.

As in current issues, all coins featured 12 stars in their design.

Pre-2007 issues are legal tender throughout the eurozone, including new member Slovenia.

Counterfeit euro coins

In the context of 56 billion coins in circulation, counterfeiting is a relatively small problem - approximately 100,000 counterfeit euro coins are taken from circulation each year, and a similar number are seized before they enter circulation. About half the counterfeits feature the German national design, but counterfeits have been detected featuring all issuing countries' designs. The great majority of counterfeit coins are €2 (87% in 2004), with most of the rest being €1, and a few 50 cent coins.

Seized coins from circulation (totals):

2005 - 95,959

2004 - 75,564

2003 - 26,339 [2]

The European Technical and Scientific Centre estimates that up to two million counterfeit coins were put into circulation in 2002.

Commemorative issues

Gold and silver commemorative issues

Finnish 10 euro coin commemorating Elias Lönnrot

Main article: List of world commemorative coins

A legacy of old national practice is the minting of silver and gold commemorative coins. Unlike normal issues, these coins are not legal tender in all the Eurozone, but only in the country where the coin was issued. For instance, a €10 Finnish commemorative coin cannot be used in the Netherlands. 10 € finish commemorative coin File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Elias Lönnrot ( ) (April 9, 1802 – March 19, 1884) was a Finnish philologist and collector of traditional Finnish oral poetry. ... // To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Legal tender or forced tender is payment that cannot be refused in settlement of a debt denominated in the same currency by virtue of law. ...

Despite this, these coins are not really intended to be used as means of payment, as their scrap value generally vastly exceeds their face value, so it does not constitute a serious problem. The major exception is Germany, where silver ten euro commemoratives are available at banks and some retailers at face value. The coins, however, generally do not circulate.

It is uncertain whether the Council of Ministers will grant them legal tender status elsewhere outside national boundaries, as San Marino, Monaco and Vatican City also issue these kind of coins. The Justus Lipsius building, the headquarter of the EU Council in Brussels The Council of the European Union (French: Le Conseil de lUnion européenne, German: Rat der Europäischen Union) is a governing body that forms, along with the European Parliament, the legislative arm of the European Union...

€2 commemorative issues

Main article: €2 commemorative coins

€2 commemorative coin issued by the Vatican City in 2004.

The European Commission allowed the minting of commemorative coins from 2004 onwards. Since then, any member state of the eurozone may issue one commemorative €2 coin per year, subject to certain restrictions regarding design and amount of coins issued. Such coins are legal tender throughout the eurozone. The new reverse side of all €2 coins from 2007 onwards. ... Vatican City Commemorative 2 Euro coin 2004. ... Vatican City Commemorative 2 Euro coin 2004. ... This article is about the continent. ...

Greece was the first country to issue this kind of coin; all but five countries have issued €2 commemorative coins as of April 2006, and one more is planning to do so in 2007.

Fantasy coins

Private agencies (e.g. International Numismatic Agency in the United Kingdom or Europ-Mint in Switzerland) have created some fantasy euro coins intended for sale to collectors, both for the EU countries outside the European Monetary Union (e.g. Cyprus, Malta, Sweden) and some other European countries (e.g. Andorra, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway) and territories (e.g. Corsica, Crete, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey). These coins lack official status, and so are not legal tender. (Territorial collectivity flag) (Territorial collectivity logo) Location Administration Capital Ajaccio President of the Executive Council Ange Santini (UMP) (since 2004) Departments Corse-du-Sud Haute-Corse Arrondissements 5 Cantons 52 Communes 360 Statistics Land area1 8,680 km² Population (Ranked 25th)  - January 1, 2006 est. ... For the famous World War II battle, see: Battle of Crete For other uses, see Crete (disambiguation). ...

See also

• List of world commemorative coins
• Euro banknotes

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (910x910, 596 KB)Media:Example. ... // To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The euro sign in its official logo form. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Euro coins

• European Central Bank (www.euro.ecb.eu)
• Page for collectors about euro coins
• 5 euro commemorative coins
• Euro coins icons (for Windows only)
• The Euro- Information Website

v • d • e Euro-related topics
Topics	Eurozone · Currencies related to the euro · European Monetary System · European Currency Unit · European Exchange Rate Mechanism · Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union · Stability and Growth Pact · Introduction of the euro · Euro coins · Euro banknotes · Euro sign · Linguistic issues concerning the euro
Coins by country – adopted	Austria · Belgium · Finland · France · Germany · Greece · Ireland · Italy · Luxembourg · Monaco · Netherlands · Portugal · San Marino · Slovenia · Spain · Vatican
Coins by country – future	Bulgaria · Cyprus · Czech Rep. · Estonia · Hungary · Latvia · Lithuania · Malta · Poland · Romania · Slovakia
Coins by country – other	Andorra · Denmark · Sweden ·  United Kingdom
Coins by denomination	€0.01 · €0.02 · €0.05 · €0.10 · €0.20 · €0.50 · €1 · €2 · €2 commemorative coins
Pre-euro currencies	Austrian Schilling · Belgian franc · Dutch gulden · Finnish mark · French franc · German Mark  · Greek drachma · Irish pound · Italian lira · Luxembourgish franc · Monegasque franc · Portuguese escudo · Sammarinese lira · Slovenian tolar · Spanish peseta · Vatican lira
ERM II currencies	Cypriot pound · Danish krone · Estonian kroon · Latvian lats · Lithuanian litas · Maltese lira · Slovak koruna
Other EU currencies	British pound · Bulgarian lev · Czech koruna · Gibraltar pound · Hungarian forint · Polish złoty · Romanian leu · Swedish krona
Note: Denmark and the UK currently opt to maintain their national currencies, the krone and the pound. Sweden has not made any further efforts towards its obligation to join (and withdraw the krona) after the failed referendum in 2003.