How Its Made – The 2 Euro Coin (€2)

Two (2)euro coins (€2) are made of two alloys: the inner part of nickel brass, the outer part of copper-nickel. All coins have a common reverse side and country-specific national sides. The coin has been used since 2002, with the present common side design dating from 2007.

The €2 euro coin is the coin subject to legal-tender commemorative issues and hence there is a large number of national sides, including two issues of identical commemorative sides by all eurozone members.

The coin dates from 2002, when euro coins and banknotes were introduced in the 12 member eurozone and its related territories. The common side was designed by Luc Luycx, a Belgian artist who won a Europe-wide competition to design the new coins. The designs of the one and two-euro coins were intended to show the European Union (EU) as a whole with the then 15 countries more closely joined together than on the 10 to 50-cent coins (the 1-cent to 5-cent coins showed the EU as one, though intending to show its place in the world).

The national sides, then 15 (eurozone + Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican who could mint their own) were each designed according to national competitions, though to specifications which applied to all coins such as the requirement of including twelve stars (see euro coins for more). National designs were not allowed to change until the end of 2008, unless a monarch (whose portrait usually appears on the coins) dies or abdicates. This happened in Monaco and the Vatican City resulting in three new designs in circulation (the Vatican had an interim design until the new Pope was selected). National designs have seen some changes due to new rule stating that national designs should include the name of the issuing country (Finland and Belgium both do not show their name, and hence have made minor changes).

In 2004 the commemorative coins were allowed to be minted in six states (a short interim period was set aside so citizens could get used to the new currency). By 2007 nearly all states had issued a commemorative issue and the first eurozone-wide commemorative was issued to celebrate the Treaty of Rome (see commemorative issued below).

As the EU’s membership has since expanded in 2004 and 2007, with further expansions envisaged, the common face of all euro coins from the value of 10 cent and above were redesigned in 2007 to show a new map. This map showed Europe, not just the EU, as one continuous landmass, however Cyprus was moved west as the map cut off after the Bosphorus (which was seen as excluding Turkey for political reasons). The redesign in 2007, rather than in 2004, was due to the fact that 2007 saw the first enlargement of the eurozone; the entry of Slovenia. Hence, the Slovenian design was added to the designs in circulation.

Cyprus and Malta joined in 2008 and Slovakia in 2009 bringing three more designs. Also in 2009, the second eurozone-wide issue of a 2-euro commemorative coin was issued, celebrating ten years of the euro.

The coins are composed of two alloys. The inner circle is composed of three layers (nickel brass, nickel, nickel brass) and the outer ring of copper-nickel giving them a two colour (silver outer and gold inner) appearance. The diameter of the coins are 25.75 mm, a 2.20 mm thickness and a mass of 8.5 grams. The coins’ edges are finely milled with lettering, though the exact design of the edge can vary between states with some choosing to write the issuing states name or denomination around the edge (see “edges” below). The coins have been used from 2002, though some are dated 1999 which is the year the euro was created as a currency, but not put into general circulation.

Obverse (common) side

The obverse (used from 2007 onwards) was designed by Luc Luycx and displays a map of Europe, not including Iceland and cutting off, in a semicircle, at the Bosporus, north through the middle of Ukraine and Belarus and through northern Scandinavia. Cyprus is located further west than it should be and Malta is shown disproportionally large so it appears on the map. The map has numerous indentations giving an appearance of geography rather than a flat design. Six fine lines cut across the map except where there is landmass and have a star at each end – reflecting the twelve stars on the flag of Europe. Across the map is the word EURO, and a large number 2 appears to the left hand side of the coin. The designers initials, LL, appear next to Cyprus.

Luc Luycx designed the original coin, which was much the same except the design was only of the then 15 members in their entirety and showing border and no geographic features. The map was less detailed and the lines the stars were upon cut through where there would be landmass in eastern Europe if it were shown.
[edit] Reverse (national) sides

The reverse side of the coin depends on the issuing country. All have to include twelve stars (in most cases a circle around the edge), the engravers initials and the year of issue. New designs also have to include the name or initials of the issuing country. The side cannot repeat the denomination of the coin unless the issuing country uses an alphabet other than Latin (currently, Greece and Austria are the only such countries, hence they engrave “2 EYPΩ” and “2 EURO” upon their coins respectively).

tour Related Posts

• Bush-ordered wiretaps illegal, judge says [/caption] The Bush administration wiretapped a U.S.-based Islamic charity under an illegal surveillance program that was not authorized by Congress...
• Climate activists condemn Copenhagen police tactics [/caption] Climate change groups have criticised Danish police for using heavy-handed tactics after they detained 968 people at a rally...
• No. 1 UConn routs No. 6 Duke, 81-48 [/caption] DURHAM, N.C. —Maya Moore swished one 3-pointer, then another. By the time her shooting flurry was through, top-ranked Connecticut...
• Do Rich Nations Owe Poor Ones a Climate Debt? [/caption] By BRYAN WALSH Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009 In two decades of climate-change negotiations, a deep divide has remained between...
• Review of Android 2.2 on the Nexus One [/caption] By Ryan Paul ARS TECHNICA Google is rolling out Android 2.2, codenamed Froyo, to Nexus One handsets. The new...

Related Websites

• Euro Coins Coins & Paper Money -> Coins: World -> Europe Euro coins were first put into circulation in 2002 by the...
• How to Identify Old Coins Whether you have years of experience and thousands of coins or have just entered the hobby of coin collecting, it...
• The Best Story in Rare Coin Collecting There are many reasons why a coin will become rare and collectible. It may be that it was a commemorative...
• Rare Gold Coins money -> Coins-World -> Gold Gold is one of the most popular substances in the world, and rare gold coins...
• 1896 Silver Dollar Coins & Paper Money -> Coins: US -> Dollars An 1896 silver dollar is one of the Morgan dollars that...