New national side of euro coins intended for circulation

(2018/C 133/04)

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 : The Vatican City State

Subject of commemoration : European Year of Cultural Heritage — The Laocoön group

Description of the design : The design features the Statue of Laocoön and His Sons, also called the Laocoön Group, a fundamental work of the world sculpture, foundational for the Vatican Museums. At the center bottom, the inscription of the issuing country ‘Città del VATICANO’. From left to right, in semi-circle, the inscription ‘ANNO EUROPEO DEL PATRIMONIO CULTURALE’. At the top right the year of issuance ‘2018’ and the mintmark ‘R’. At the bottom right the name of the artist ‘D. LONGO’.

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

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).