New national side of euro coins intended for circulation

(2016/C 97/10)

Euro coins intended for circulation have legal tender status throughout the euro area. For the purpose of informing the public and all parties who handle the coins, the Commission publishes a description of the designs of all new coins (1). In accordance with the Council conclusions of 10 February 2009 (2), euro-area Member States and countries that have concluded a monetary agreement with the European Union providing for the issuing of euro coins are allowed to issue commemorative euro coins intended for circulation, provided that certain conditions are met, particularly that only the 2-euro denomination is used. These coins have the same technical characteristics as other 2-euro coins, but their national face features a commemorative design that is highly symbolic in national or European terms.

Issuing country : Portugal

Subject of commemoration : Portuguese Team participating in the Olympic Games — Rio 2016

Description of the design : The design depicts a visual composition based on the well-known work of art signed by the author, Mrs Joanna Vasconcelos, the ‘Heart of Viana’, inspired by traditional jewelry from the North of Portugal (around the city of Viana do Castelo). It symbolises the support of the Portuguese people to the national team by the occasion of the Games. At the left and the right, in semi-circle, are the inscriptions ‘JOANA VASCONCELOS’ and ‘EQUIPA OLÍMPICA DE PORTUGAL 2016’, respectively. At the bottom is the mintmark ‘INCM’.

The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Number of coins to be issued :

Date of issue : March 2016

(1)  See OJ C 373, 28.12.2001, p. 1 for the national faces of all the coins issued in 2002.

(2)  See the conclusions of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council of 10 February 2009 and the Commission Recommendation of 19 December 2008 on common guidelines for the national sides and the issuance of euro coins intended for circulation (OJ L 9, 14.1.2009, p. 52).