New national side of euro coins intended for circulation

(2017/C 444/08)

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 : Slovakia

Subject of commemoration : The 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Slovak Republic

Description of the design : The design symbolises Slovakia’s entry into the European Union and the euro area by showing a stylised portal arching over both a map of Slovakia and a euro symbol surrounded by the European Union stars, some covered by the map. The Slovak coat of arms appears on the left of the design. At the lower left side, in semi-circle is the name of the issuing country ‘SLOVENSKÁ REPUBLIKA’. The date of the country’s establishment ‘1.1.1993’ and the year of issuance ‘2018’ appear, one above the other, below the right side of the map. Between the map and the date are the mint mark of the Kremnica Mint (Mincovňa Kremnica), consisting of the initials ‘MK’ placed between two dies, and the stylised letters ‘PK’, the initials of the designer, Pavel Károly.

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

Estimated number of coins to be issued :

Date of issue : January 2018

(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).