The Currency of Europa

The currency of Europe is the Euro. The euro banknotes and coins are part of everyday life for approximately 320 million people in the euro area. In this article we prresent the seven euro banknotes and the eight euro coins.

Euro banknotes and coins were introduced on 1 January 2002 in 12 of the then 15 Member States of the European Union (EU). The euro has since been adopted by Slovenia (1 January 2007) and Cyprus and Malta (1 January 2008). Currently the euro area is made up of 15 countries.

15 Member States of the European Union use the euro as their currency:

• Belgium

• Germany

• Ireland

• Greece

• Spain

• France

• Italy

• Cyprus

• Luxembourg

• Malta

• The Netherlands

• Austria

• Portugal

• Slovenia

• Finland

Non-participants:

Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden and the United Kingdom are EU Member States but do not currently use the single European currency.

The banknotes – inspired by the architectural styles of seven periods in Europe’s cultural history – are identical throughout the euro area. The coins have a ‘European’ side and a ‘national’ side, with images that vary from country to country. In addition to the countries in the euro area, the Principality of Monaco, the Republic of San Marino and the Vatican City also issue euro coins.

Furthermore, all of these countries can issue a €2 commemorative coin, with a special national design, once a year. These coins have the same European side and the same material properties as normal €2 coins. They are legal tender throughout the euro area, i.e. they can be used – and must be accepted – just like any other coin.

You can use any euro coin or banknote anywhere in the euro area.

When writing 1 Euro = 1.5787 U.S. Dollars / 1 Dollar = 0.6334 Euro.

THE EURO BANKNOTES

€5

Size: 120 x 62 mm

Colour: Grey

Architectural period: Classical

€10

Size: 127 x 67 mm

Colour: Red

Architectural period: Romanesque

€20

Size: 133 x 72 mm

Colour: Blue

Architectural period: Gothic

€50

Size: 140 x 77 mm

Colour: Orange

Architectural period: Renaissance

€100

Size: 147 x 82 mm

Colour: Green

Architectural period: Baroque and rococo

€200

Size: 153 x 82 mm

Colour: Yellow-brown

Architectural period: Iron and glass architecture

€500

Size: 160 x 82 mm

Colour: Purple

Architectural period: Modern 20th century

THE EURO COINS

The coins range from €2 to 1 cent. Each one has a ‘European' side and a ‘national' side. The European sides show either the EU before its enlargement in May 2004 or a geographical image of Europe. The national sides show symbols or images from the countries that issue the coins. The countries comprise the members of the euro area, as well as the Principality of Monaco, the Republic of San Marino and the Vatican City. You can use any euro coin anywhere in the euro area.

EUROPEAN SIDES

€2

Diameter: 25.75 mm

Height at edge: 2.20 mm

Weight: 8.50 g

Shape: Round

Colour:

Outer part: silver

Inner part: gold

Composition:

Outer part: copper-nickel

Inner part: three layers: nickel-brass, nickel, nickel-brass

Edge: Edge lettering (different for each country), fine milled

€1

Diameter: 23.25 mm

Height at edge: 2.33 mm

Weight: 7.50 g

Shape: Round

Colour:

Outer part: gold

Inner part: silver

Composition:

Outer part: nickel-brass

Inner part: three layers: copper-nickel, nickel, copper-nickel

Edge: Interrupted milled

50 CENT

Diameter: 24.25 mm

Height at edge: 2.38 mm

Weight: 7.80 g

Shape: Round

Colour: Gold

Composition: Nordic gold

Edge: Shaped edge with fine scallops

20 CENT

Diameter: 22.25 mm

Height at edge: 2.14 mm

Weight: 5.74 g

Shape: Spanish flower shape

Colour: Gold

Composition: Nordic gold

Edge: Plain 3

10 CENT

Diameter: 19.75 mm

Height at edge: 1.93 mm

Weight: 4.10 g

Shape: Round

Colour: Gold

Composition: Nordic gold

Edge: Shaped edge with fine scallops

5 CENT

Diameter: 21.25 mm

Height at edge: 1.67 mm

Weight: 3.92 g

Shape: Round

Colour: Copper

Composition: Copper-covered steel

Edge: Smooth

2 CENT

Diameter: 18.75 mm

Height at edge: 1.67 mm

Weight: 3.06 g

Shape: Round

Colour: Copper

Composition: Copper-covered steel

Edge: Smooth with a groove

1 CENT

Diameter: 16.25 mm

Height at edge: 1.67 mm

Weight: 2.30 g

Shape: Round

Colour: Copper

Composition: Copper-covered steel

Edge: Smooth

NATIONAL SIDES

BELGIUM

A national panel made up of leading Belgian officials, artists and experts in numismatics chose the motif used on all the coins. It depicts King Albert II and a monogram - a capital "A" underneath a crown - among 12 stars, symbolising Europe. The year of issue is part of the design, along with the year the coin was struck.

GERMANY

€1 and €2 coins: the traditional symbol of German sovereignty, the eagle, surrounded by the stars of Europe, appears on these coins. This motif was designed by Heinz and Sneschana Russewa-Hoyer.

IRELAND (Éire)

All the Irish coins have the same national side showing a Celtic harp, a traditional symbol of Ireland. The word "Ireland" is shown in Irish (Éire).

GREECE (Ελλάδα)

The €2 coin depicts a scene from a Spartan mosaic featuring Europa, the Greek mythical figure from whom our continent took its name. The €1 coin shows an owl motif taken from an ancient Athenian 4 drachma coin. The 50, 20 and 10 cent coins portray leading Greek figures from the early 20th, the 19th and 18th centuries, while a seagoing tanker, a corvette and an Athenian trireme are featured on the 5, 2 and 1 cent coins respectively.

SPAIN (España)

The effigy of King Juan Carlos I de Borbón y Borbón is reproduced on the €2 and €1 coins. Miguel de Cervantes, the father of Spanish literature, is shown on the 50, 20 and 10 cent coins, reflecting the universality of the man and his work. The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, one of the most famous pilgrimage destinations in the world, is depicted on the 5, 2 and 1 cent coins.

FRANCE

A tree, symbolising life, continuity and growth, appears on the €2 and €1 coins. It is surrounded by the Republican motto "liberté, égalité, fraternité". The classical theme of the sower is illustrated on the 50, 20 and 10 cent coins, while a young and feminine Marianne, a symbol of the French Republic, adorns the 5, 2 and 1 cent coins.

ITALY (Italia)

The €2 coin features a portrait of Dante Alighieri by Raphael. The €1 coin shows Leonardo da Vinci's drawing illustrating the ideal proportions of the human body. The 50, 20 and 10 cent coins depict the statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, a sculpture by Umberto Boccioni and "The Birth of Venus" by Botticelli respectively. The other coins feature the Colosseum (5 cent), the Mole Antonelliana (2 cent) and the Castel del Monte (1 cent).

CYPRUS (Κύπρος/Κıbrıs) as from 1 January 2008

The €2 and €1 coins depict a cross-shaped idol from the Chalcolithic period (3000 BC). This example of the island's prehistoric art reflects Cyprus's place at the heart of civilisation and antiquity. The 50, 20 and 10 cent coins show the Kyrenia ship, a trading vessel which dates back to the fourth century BC. It symbolises the island's seafaring history and its importance as a centre of trade. The 5, 2 and 1 cent coins show the moufflon, a species of wild sheep found on Cyprus and representative of its wildlife.

LUXEMBOURG (Lëtzebuerg)

The coins show the effigy of His Royal Highness the Grand Duke Henri. The word "Luxembourg" is written in Luxembourgish (Lëtzebuerg).

MALTA as from 1 January 2008

The €2 and €1 coins show the eight-pointed Maltese Cross. The 50, 20 and 10 cent coins feature the Emblem of Malta, a shield displaying a heraldic representation of the Maltese national flag. The 5, 2 and 1 cent coins depict the altar at the prehistoric temple of Mnajdra, built around 3600 BC on a low elevation overlooking the sea.

THE NETHERLANDS (Nederland)

Two different designs - both of Queen Beatrix in profile - are used. On the €2 and €1 coins, the words "Beatrix, Queen of the Netherlands" in Dutch appear to the right of the profile. On the 50, 20, 10, 5, 2, and 1 cent coins, the same wording encircles the profile.

AUSTRIA (Österreich)

The €2 coin shows a portrait of the pacifist Bertha von Suttner. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the famous Austrian composer, is depicted on the €1 coin. Some of Vienna's most famous buildings adorn the 50 cent (Secession Building), 20 cent (Belvedere Palace) and 10 cent (St. Stephen's Cathedral) coins. The 5, 2 and 1 cent coins show an Alpine primrose, an edelweiss and a gentian flower respectively.

PORTUGAL

Royal seals of the first king of Portugal, Dom Afonso Henriques, together with the word "Portugal" are shown in the centre of the coins. The seals date back to 1144 on the €2 and €1 coins, to 1142 on the 50, 20 and 10 cent coins, and to 1134 on the 5, 2 and 1 cent coins. They are encircled by castles and coats of arms, which in turn are surrounded by the 12 stars of the European Union.

SLOVENIA (Slovenija)

The €2 coin shows the poet France Prešeren. The €1 coin features Primož Trubar, author of the first book printed in Slovene. The 50 and 20 cent coins depict the Triglav mountain and Lipizzaner horses respectively. The 10 cent coin features architect Jože Plečnik's unrealised plan for the Slovenian Parliament. The 5 cent coin depicts a sower. The other coins show the Sovereign Enthronement Stone (2 cent) and a stork (1 cent).

FINLAND (Suomi/Finland)

Cloudberries and cloudberry flowers appear on the €2 coin, while the motif of two flying swans features on the €1 coin. The heraldic lion is depicted on the 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cent coins

MONACO

The €2 and €1 coins depict HSH Prince Albert II. HSH Prince Albert's monogram is featured on the 50, 20 and 10 cent coins. The 5, 2 and 1 cent coins show the coat of arms of the Sovereign Princes of Monaco.

SAN MARINO

The Government building (Palazzo Pubblico) is depicted on the €2 coin, while the €1 coin shows the Republic's official coat of arms. The three towers, Guaita, Cesta and Montale, appear on the 50 cent coin. The 20 cent coin features the Saint Marino, based on a canvas of the Guercino school, while the 10 cent coin depicts the Basilica of Saint Marino. The 5, 2 and 1 cent coins show the first tower, the Statue of Liberty and third tower respectively.

VATICAN CITY (Città del Vaticano)

All the coins show His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI and the legend "CITTÀ DEL VATICANO".