NEW NATIONAL SIDES OF EURO CIRCULATION COINS

(2005/C 308/08)

Euro circulation coins have legal tender status throughout the euro area. The Commission publishes all new euro coin designs (1) with a view to informing the parties required to handle coins on a regular basis and the public at large.

Issuing State: Vatican City State

Approximate issue period: April 2005

Description of the designs: All denominations

The inner part of the coin shows the coat of arms of Cardinal Chamberlain, the interim leader of the Vatican City State, with the emblem of the Apostolic Chamber in the upper part of the design. The words ‘SEDE VACANTE’ form a quasi-semicircle along the upper left edge of the inner part. The year of mintage, ‘MMV’, appears in Roman numerals along the right-hand edge of the inner part. Between the coat of arms and the year of mintage is the mintmark ‘R’. The designer's initial and surname, ‘D. LONGO’, appear on the lower left-hand side along the edge of the inner part. The engraver's initials appear on the lower right-hand side of the design along the edge of the inner part: ‘MAC inc’ (1-cent, 20-cent); ‘LDS inc’ (2-cent, 50-cent); ‘ELF inc’ (5-cent, 1-euro); ‘MCC inc’ (10-cent, 2-euro). Twelve stars in a quasi-semicircle are shown on the upper half of the outer ring. On the lower part of the outer ring the words ‘CITTÀ DEL VATICANO’ form a semicircle.

Edge lettering of the 2-euro coin: 2 *, repeated six times, alternately upright and inverted.

(1)  See OJ C 373 of 28.12.2001, pp. 1-30 for a reference to all national sides that were issued in 2002.