New national side of euro circulation coins

(2007/C 233/08)

Euro circulation coins have legal tender status throughout the euro area. The Commission publishes all new euro coin designs (1) with a view to informing all parties required to handle coins in the course of their work as well as the public at large. In accordance with the Council conclusions of 8 December 2003 (2), euro-area Member States and countries that have concluded a Monetary Agreement with the Community providing for the issuance of euro circulation coins are allowed to issue certain quantities of commemorative euro circulation coins on condition that not more than one new coin design is issued per country per year and that only the 2-euro denomination is used. These coins have the technical features of normal euro circulation coins, but bear a commemorative design on the national side.

Issuing State: Vatican City State

Subject of commemoration: 80th anniversary of the Pope Benedictus XVI

Factual description of the design: The inner part of the coin features a bust of His Holiness Benedictus XVI in profile facing to the left. The legend ‘BENEDICTI XVI P.M. AETATIS ANNO LXXX CITTA' DEL VATICANO’ is engraved around the portrait. On the left hand side, the mintmark ‘R’, the issuing year ‘2007’ and the initials of the engraver ‘M.C.C. INC.’. On the right hand side, the author's name ‘LONGO’. The outer ring of the coin depicts the twelve stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 100 000 coins

Approximate issuing date: September-October 2007

Edge lettering: 2 ★, repeated six times, alternately upright and inverted.

(1)  See OJ C 373, 28.12.2001, p. 1, for a reference to all national sides that were issued in 2002.

(2)  See conclusions of the General Affairs Council of 8 December 2003 on changes in the design of national sides of euro coins. See also Commission Recommendation of 29 September 2003 on a common practice for changes to the design of national obverse sides of euro circulation coins (OJ L 264, 15.10.2003, p. 38).