New national side of euro coins intended for circulation
(2019/C 189/12)
National side of the new commemorative 2-euro coin intended for circulation and issued by Greece
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 : Greece
Subject of commemoration : Andreas Kalvos — 150 years in memoriam
Description of the design : Born in Zante, Andreas Kalvos (1792-1869) is one the most important modern Greek poets. Combining a solid neo-classicist education with the high ideals of Romanticism and archaicising with demotic Greek, he expressed both the revolutionary ideas of his time and his personal vision.
The national side of the coin features a portrait of Andreas Kalvos. Inscribed along the inner edge at the left is the name ‘ANDREAS KALVOS 1792-1869’, along with the minting year and a palmette (mintmark of the Greek Mint); inscribed along the inner edge at the right is the wording ‘HELLENIC REPUBLIC’. Also visible at the right is the monogram of the artist (George Stamatopoulos).
The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.
Estimated number of coins to be issued :
750 000Date of issue : June 2019
(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).