New national side of euro coins intended for circulation

(2017/C 312/03)

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 : France

Subject of commemoration : 25th anniversary of the pink ribbon, symbol of the fight against breast cancer

Description of the design : Since the 1990s, the fight against breast cancer has been a major cause around the world. On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the pink ribbon, iconic symbol of this fight, Monnaie de Paris has decided to support this cause. For nearly 15 years, a pink ribbon prize has been presented every year to support research efforts and innovation.

The design represents a woman’s bust symbolically protected by a hand and the ribbon. It is surrounded, at the right side, by the inscription ‘25e ANNIVERSAIRE DU RUBAN ROSE’ (25th anniversary of the pink ribbon). The right side also features the years ‘1992 – 2017’, the indication of the issuing country ‘RF’ and the mintmarks.

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

Number of coins to be issued : 10 million coins

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).