New national side of euro coins intended for circulation

(2021/C 473/07)

National side of the new commemorative 2-euro coin intended for circulation and issued by Portugal

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: Portugal

Subject of commemoration: Tokyo Olympics

Description of the design: The design depicts the Portuguese Olympic Committee symbols. The design had earned the Council’s approval in 2020 as it was initially intended to be issued in mid-2020. However, Casa da Moeda and the Olympic Committee have agreed to postpone its issuance in accordance to the Games new calendar from July 23 to August 8, 2021, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. For that reason a few design details on the lettering have been updated, specifically the abbreviated two-digit format for the year 2020 (by using an apostrophe: ‘Tóquio’20’) followed by the year of issuance 2021, and finally the author’s name that appears next to the Mintmark.

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

Estimated number of coins to be issued: 510 000

Date of issue: Middle of 2021

(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).