New national side of euro coins intended for circulation

(2016/C 26/04)

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 issuance of euro coins are authorised to issue commemorative euro coins intended for circulation, provided that certain conditions are met, one of these being 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 : Belgium

Subject of commemoration : Olympic Games

Description of the design : The inner part of the coin depicts, from top to bottom, a stylised figure, the five Olympic rings and the inscription ‘TEAM BELGIUM’. The year 2016 is written on the left-hand side of the coin. The country code ‘BE’ appears on the right-hand side of the coin, between the mark of the Brussels mint, a helmeted profile of the archangel Michael, and the signature mark of the Master of the Mint.

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

Number of coins to be issued : 375 000 coins

Date of issue : March 2016

(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).