New national face of euro coins intended for circulation

(2008/C 13/02)

Euro coins intended for circulation are legal tender throughout the euro area. For the purpose of informing the public and all parties involved who handle the coins, the Commission publishes a description of the designs of all new coins (1). In accordance with the Council conclusions of 8 December 2003 (2), euro-area Member States and those countries that have concluded a Monetary Agreement with the Community providing for the issuance of euro coins intended for circulation are allowed to issue certain quantities of commemorative euro coins for circulation on condition that not more than one new coin design is issued per country per year and that only the 2-euro denomination is used. These coins have the technical features of normal euro circulation coins, but bear a commemorative design on the national side.

Issuing country: Germany

Subject of commemoration: Hamburg

Description of the design: The inner part of the coin features St Michael's church, Hamburg. The name of the federal State ‘HAMBURG’ is inscribed beneath the church. To the right of the church are the engraver's initial ‘O’ and above it towards the top centre the mintmark (‘A’, ‘D’, ‘F’, ‘G’ or ‘J’). The outer ring has the year of issue inscribed at the top, six stars on each side and below them the words ‘BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND’.

Number of coins to be issued: 30 million

Date of issue:

Edge lettering: ‘EINIGKEIT UND RECHT UND FREIHEIT’ and the federal eagle.

(1)  See OJ C 373, 28.12.2001, p. 1 for the national sides of all the coins issued in 2002.

(2)  See the conclusions of the Council (General Affairs) of 8 December 2003 on changes in the design of national sides of euro coins. See also the Commission Recommendation of 29 September 2003 on a common practice for changes to the design of national sides of euro circulation coins (OJ L 264, 15.10.2003, p. 38-39).