NEW NATIONAL SIDE OF EURO CIRCULATION COINS

(2004/C 243/03)

National side of the new 2-euro commemorative circulation coin issued by Finland

Euro circulation coins have legal tender status throughout the euro area. With a view to informing the parties professionally handling coins and the public at large, the Commission publishes all new euro coin designs (1). In accordance with the relevant Council conclusions of 8 December 2003 (2), Member States are allowed to issue certain quantities of commemorative euro circulation coins under the condition that only one such coin is issued per Member State and per year and that the EUR 2 denomination is used. These coins correspond to the technical features of normal euro circulation coins, but bear a commemorative feature on the obverse national side.

(1)   Member State: Finland

(2)   Commemorative feature: Enlargement of the European Union by ten new Member States

(3)   Factual description of the design: The design describes a stylised pillar from which the sprouts grow upwards. The sprouts represent the enlargement of the European Union. The pillar represents the foundation for growth. Near the pillar there are the letters ‘EU’. In the upper part of the coin there is the year ‘2004’. Twelve stars, together with the year, surround the design.

(4)   Issuing volume: max. 1 000 000 coins

(5)   Approximate issuing date: June/July 2004

(1)  See OJ C 373, 28.12.2001, p. 1 for a reference to all national sides that have been issued up until now.

(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).