New national side of euro coins intended for circulation

(2017/C 23/04)

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 : Germany

Subject of commemoration : Rhineland-Palatinate (‘Federal States’ (Bundesländer) series)

Description of the design : The design shows the Porta Nigra in Trier which is probably the best-preserved Roman city gate north of the Alps.

The inner part also features the name ‘RHEINLAND-PFALZ’ and the issuing country’s code ‘D’ at the bottom. The mint mark of the respective mint (‘A’, ‘D’, ‘F’, ‘G’ or ‘J’) appears at the left and the year ‘2017’ appears at the top. At the right, the initials of the designer ‘CH’ (Chocola Frantisek).

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

Number of coins to be issued : 30 million

Date of issue : January/February 2017

(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).