New national side of euro coins intended for circulation
(2020/C 395/03)
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: Medical Research
Description of the design: The design shows the figuration of the human in union, represented by a face inscribed in a sphere. It faces the infinitely small, represented by fragments of DNA inscribed in a circle. By its oblique axis, this allegory represents the research and its intelligence dominating the infinitely small, studying it and triumphing over the diseases. The indication of the issuing country ‘RF’ is located at the top right while the mintmark and the year of issuance ‘2020’ are located at the bottom left.
The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.
Number of coins to be issued: 300 000
Date of issue: October 2020
(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).