New national side of euro coins intended for circulation

2012/C 223/02

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

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: Monaco

Subject of commemoration: The 500th anniversary of the foundation of Monaco's Sovereignty, by founder Lucien 1er GRIMALDI

Description of the design: The inner part of the coin shows a portrait of Lucien 1er GRIMALDI in profile facing to the left. The words ‘SOUVERAINETE DE MONACO’ appear above the portrait in an arc along the upper edge of the inner part of the coin, flanked by the years ‘1512’ and ‘2012’. Two ornamental details are engraved at the beginning and at the end of the text. At the bottom, the horn of plenty, mintmark of the ‘Monnaie de Paris’, and the ‘fleurette’, hallmark of the engraving workshop, flank the portrait on the left hand side and the right hand side, respectively. Above the mintmark is engraved the inscription ‘Lucien Ier’.

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

Number of coins to be issued:

Date of issue:

(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).