New national side of euro coins intended for circulation

2011/C 291/03

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

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), the 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: Finland

Subject of commemoration: The 200th anniversary of the Bank of Finland

Description of the design: The centre of the coin shows the Finnish national bird, whooper swan. The swan's wing separates the years ‘1811’ (bottom right) and ‘2011’ (centre left). The letter ‘V’ in the left armpit of the swan stands for the surname of the designer, Hannu Veijalainen. At the bottom of the inner ring, the indication of the issuing country ‘FI’ and the mintmark appear.

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

Number of coins to be issued: 1,5 million

Date of issue: October 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).