27.7.2012   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 201/135

(1)

The Council conclusions of 23 November 1998 and of 5 November 2002 on euro coins intended for collection, the Commission Recommendation 2009/23/EC of 19 December 2008 on common guidelines for the national sides and the issuance of euro coins intended for circulation (3), endorsed by Council conclusions of 10 February 2009, and the Commission Recommendation 2010/191/EU of 22 March 2010 on the scope and effects of legal tender of euro banknotes and coins (4), recommend practices regarding the issuance of euro coins intended for circulation, including commemorative euro coins, consultation prior to the destruction of fit euro circulation coins and the use of euro collector coins.

(2)

The lack of mandatory provisions for the issuance of euro coins may result in different practices among Member States and does not achieve a sufficiently integrated framework for the single currency. In the interests of transparency and legal certainty, it is therefore necessary to introduce binding rules for the issuance of euro coins.

(3)

In accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 974/98 of 3 May 1998 on the introduction of the euro (5), coins denominated in euro and cent and complying with the denominations and technical specifications laid down by the Council have the status of legal tender in all Member States whose currency is the euro. Denominations and technical specifications of euro coins are laid down in Council Regulation (EC) No 975/98 of 3 May 1998 on denominations and technical specifications of euro coins intended for circulation (6).

(4)

Member States whose currency is the euro should also be able to issue 2-euro commemorative coins to celebrate specific subjects, subject to limits set per year and per issuing Member State for the number of issues of such coins. It is necessary to establish certain volume limits for commemorative euro coins in order to ensure that such coins remain a minor percentage of the total number of the 2-euro coins in circulation. Such volume limits should, however, allow for the issuance of a sufficient volume of coins to ensure that commemorative euro coins can circulate effectively.

(5)

Member States whose currency is the euro should also be able to issue euro collector coins, which are not intended for circulation and which should be readily distinguishable from circulation coins. Euro collector coins should have the status of legal tender only in the Member State of issuance and should not be issued with a view to their entry into circulation.

(6)

It is appropriate that issuances of euro collector coins are accounted for in the volume of coins to be approved by the European Central Bank, but on an aggregate basis rather than for each individual issue.

(7)

The use of different denominations of euro coins and euro banknotes, as currently devised, should be periodically and carefully examined by the competent institutions against the criteria of cost and public acceptability. In particular, the Commission should conduct an impact assessment on the continued issuance of 1- and 2-cent coins.

(8)

In order to avoid that fit euro circulation coins are destroyed by one Member State while there may be a need of such coins in another, Member States should consult each other prior to the destruction of such coins,

(1)

‘circulation coins’ means euro coins intended for circulation, the denominations and technical specifications of which are laid down in Regulation (EC) No 975/98;

(2)

‘commemorative coins’ means circulation coins, which are intended to commemorate a specific subject as specified in Article 1h of Regulation (EC) No 975/98;

(3)

‘collector coins’ means euro coins intended for collection that are not issued with a view to their entry into circulation.

(a)

commemorative coins are collectively issued by all Member States whose currency is the euro; or

(b)

a commemorative coin is issued on the occasion of a temporary vacancy or a provisional occupation of the function of Head of State.

(a)

0,1 % of the cumulated total net number of 2-euro coins put into circulation by all Member States whose currency is the euro up to the beginning of the year preceding the year of issuance of the commemorative coin; this ceiling may be raised to 2,0 % of the cumulated total net number of 2-euro coins of all Member States whose currency is the euro if a widely recognised and highly symbolic subject is commemorated, in which case the issuing Member State shall refrain from launching another commemorative coin issue using the raised ceiling during the subsequent four years and shall set out the reasons for choosing the raised ceiling; or

(b)

5,0 % of the cumulated total net number of 2-euro coins put into circulation by the Member State concerned up to the beginning of the year preceding the year of issuance of the commemorative coin.

(a)

their face value must be different from the face values of circulation coins;

(b)

their images must not be similar to the common sides of circulation coins, and if their images are similar to any national side of circulation coins, their overall appearance can still be easily differentiated;

(c)

their colour, diameter and weight must differ significantly from circulation coins for at least two of these three characteristics; the difference shall be regarded as significant if the values including tolerances are outside the tolerance ranges fixed for circulation coins; and

(d)

they must not have a shaped edge with fine scallops or a ‘Spanish flower’ shape.