Coins

The eight denominations of euro coins - 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, as well as 1- and 2-euro coins - vary in size, weight, colour and thickness depending on their values. Coins (euro and cents) were emitted together with the euro banknotes - on 1 January 2002.

Highest value coins - 1- and 2-euro coins - use a sophisticated bi-metal technology (silver and gold). Average value coins - 10, 20 and 50 euro cents - are „Nordic gold", and three lowest value coins (and smallest in size) are made of copper-covered steel.

Coins differ in size depending on their value. 1-cent coin is the smallest one, but 2-euro coin - the biggest.

One euro is divided into 100 cents.

Although euro coin design differs among euro-area countries you can use any euro coin as a legal tender anywhere in the euro area. The euro coins have a common front side and different back or national side.

The decision that all euro-coins will have common front side and that the reverse of coins will be chosen by each euro-area country separately was made in 1996. All the European Union (EU) Member States, except Denmark, participated in design competition and submitted 3 design versions for the set of euro-coin each. Jury was made of EU and Member States' government officials, art experts and coin collectors; also the public opinion poll was carried out.

Luc Luycx of the Royal Belgian Mint won a Europe-wide competition to design the common side of the coins.

Common sides - front design

show three different maps of Europe, with a background made up of the twelve stars of the European Union. The map on the 1-, 2- and 5-cent coins depicts Europe in relation to the rest of the world. The map on the 10-, 20- and 50-cent coins represents the Union as a group of 'individual' nations. To stress unity as well, the same group of nations is integrated into a whole on the 1- and 2-euro coins.

Size of coins:

2-euro - 25.75 mm;
1-euro - 23.25 mm;
50- euro cent - 24.25 mm;
20-euro cent - 22.25 mm;
10-euro cent - 19.75 mm;
5-euro cent - 21.25 mm;
2-euro cent - 18.75 mm;
1-euro cent - 16.25 mm;

Today the euro is the single currency shared by 15 of the European Union's Member States. The back sides of euro coins differ among the states depicting national symbols of individual state:

Austria
Belgium
France
Greece
Ireland
Italy
Cyprus
Luxemburg
Malta
The Netherlands
Portugal
Slovenia
Finland
Spain
Germany