New national side of euro coins intended for circulation

(2018/C 14/04)

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 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 : Spain

Subject of commemoration : UNESCO's World Cultural and Natural Heritage Sites - Santiago

Description of the design : The City of Santiago de Compostela was declared World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1985, considering its urban beauty and monumental integrity added to the deep echoes of its spiritual and cultural significance of the Middle Ages: the Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage.

The Camino de Santiago (The Way of St. James) is a large network of ancient pilgrim routes stretching across Europe and coming together at the tomb of St. James in Santiago de Compostela in north-west Spain.

The design reproduces the sculpture of Santiago as a central figure in the canvas of the Puerta Santa of Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. On the left hand side, in semi-circle, is the word “ESPAÑA”, at the bottom left the year of issuance “2018” and underneath the mint mark.

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

Estimated number of coins to be issued :

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).