New national side of euro coins intended for circulation

2011/C 19/04

National side of the new commemorative 2-euro coin intended for circulation and issued by the Netherlands

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 Community 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: The Netherlands

Subject of commemoration: The 500th anniversary of the issue of the world famous book ‘Laus Stultitiae’ by the Dutch philosopher, humanist and theologian Desiderus Erasmus

Description of the design: The inner part of the coin depicts Erasmus writing his book and the effigy of Queen Beatrix. Between these two images, the inscription ‘Beatrix Koningin der Nederlanden’ vertically positioned, the year ‘2011’, the Mint master mark and the mintmark.

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

Volume of issuance: 4 million coins

Date of issue: January 2011

(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).