The euro (EUR or €) is the common currency for most nations within the European Union. Euro coins and banknotes (see euro banknotes) came into distribution on January 1, 2002, but the year imprinted on the coins can date back to 1999, when the currency was formally established.
One euro is divided into 100 cents and there are eight different denominations:
| Denomination | Diameter | Thickness | Weight | Composition | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 cent | € 0.01 | Steel with a copper cover | Smooth | |||
| 2 cent | € 0.02 | Steel with a copper cover | Smooth with a single groove | |||
| 5 cent | € 0.05 | Steel with a copper cover | Smooth | |||
| 10 cent | € 0.10 | Copper alloy (Nordic Gold) | Scalloped (ribbed edge) | |||
| 20 cent | € 0.20 | Copper alloy (Nordic Gold) | Smooth with seven indentations | |||
| 50 cent | € 0.50 | Copper alloy (Nordic Gold) | Scalloped (ribbed edge) | |||
| 1 euro | € 1.00 | Inner: copper-nickel alloy Outer: nickel brass |
Six alternating segments, three smooth, three finely ribbed |
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| 2 euro | € 2.00 | Inner: nickel brass Outer: copper-nickel alloy |
Finely ribbed with edge lettering |
All coins have a common front 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 Europe's place in the world as a whole. The image on the 10, 20 and 50 cent coins shows the EU member states coming together (note that the EU members who are at this time not part of the euro are also depicted). Finally, the 1 and 2 euro coins depict a Europe without frontiers. All coins feature 12 stars in their design.
| € 0.01 | € 0.02 | € 0.05 |
|---|---|---|
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Each country participating in the euro has its own design on the national side of the coin. These designs vary from simply depicting the monarch 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. To view each country's national sides, please choose from the links below, which are listed in the order preferred by the European Central Bank (alphabetically by their names in their native languages).
- Belgian euro coins
- German euro coins
- Greek euro coins
- Spanish euro coins
- French euro coins
- Irish euro coins
- Italian euro coins
- Luxembourg euro coins
- Dutch euro coins
- Austrian euro coins
- Portuguese euro coins
- Finnish euro coins
Though they are not members of the EU, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City also have euro coins featuring a national side, but these are not expected to end up in general circulation, but rather are more of interest to coin collectors. The coins from Monaco feature the royal family's coat of arms and seal and the portrait of the current ruler, Prince Rainier III; those from San Marino have various towers and public buildings from the small nation on them as well as the national coat of arms and the Vatican coins present the portrait of Pope John Paul II.
| External links |
- European Central Bank (www.euro.ecb.int) (http://www.euro.ecb.int/)
- Euro Coins (http://www.eurocoins.co.uk/) (including design fantasies for the UK and Denmark)