New national side of euro coins intended for circulation
(2019/C 57/11)
National side of the new commemorative 2-euro coin intended for circulation and issued by France
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 : France
Subject of commemoration : 30 years of the fall of the Berlin Wall
Description of the design : Thirty years ago, the Berlin Wall fell. Beyond the impact on German society, it was an event with global consequences. On November 9th, 1989, this occasion marks the end of the cold war and announces an appeasement after several decades of international tensions. At the European level, it is the first step towards the reunification of one of the leading countries of the European Union. This major change was after materialised by the Moscow Treaty of which France was a signatory. The European Union welcomed then 16 million new citizens in just one year; almost the structural and economic effect of welcoming a new country!
The design represents the Berlin Wall, opened in its centre, letting the doves (allegories of the international appeasement), and the jubilant crowd pass. In the background, the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin’s symbol par excellence, is represented. The mention ‘30 years of the fall of the Berlin Wall/30 Jahre Mauerfall’ is inscribed on one side of the wall. At the bottom of the design is the year of issuance ‘2019’ and at its right the indication of the issuing country ‘RF’ (standing for République Française).
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 :
31 January 2019(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).