New national side of euro coins intended for circulation

(2017/C 111/06)

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 issuance of euro coins are authorised to issue commemorative euro coins intended for circulation, provided that certain conditions are met, one of these being 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 : Belgium

Subject of commemoration : 200th anniversary of the University of Liège

Description of the design : The inner part of the piece represents the logo of the University of Liege, with the dates 1817 — 2017 below, surrounded by the inscription 200 ANS UNIVERSITE DE LIEGE — 200 YEARS UNIVERSITY OF LIEGE and the country indication BE. The mintmark of Brussels, a helmeted head of the Archangel Michael and the mint directors’ mintmark, the coat of arms of the municipality Herzele, are located respectively on the right and left of the country indication.

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

Number of coins to be issued : 200 000 coins

Date of issue : April 2017

(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).