Identifying marks on euro coins

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Before the introduction of the euro, the current

mint master marks
. These marks have been continued as a part of the national designs of the euro coins, as well. This article serves to list the information about the various types of identifying marks on euro coins, including engraver and designer initials and the unique edge inscriptions found on the €2 coins.

Date stamps on euro coins

Since the euro was officially introduced in 1999, most of the EMU member countries began producing their coins ahead of the 2002 introduction date. There is individual national legislation in place which governs the mintage of coins issued from each country. These coinage acts regulate the coin production parameters for each country.

Mintage date

The coinage acts of countries with a mintage date stipulation specify that the year the coin is minted, regardless of when the coins are issued, should appear on each coin. Belgium, Finland, France, the Netherlands and Spain have mintage date stipulations.

Issue date

The coinage acts of countries with an issue date stipulation specify that the year the coin is issued, regardless of when the coins are minted, should appear on each coin. Austria, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, San Marino and the Vatican City have issue date stipulations.

Conclusion

Since the euro was first issued in 2002, the countries which have an issue date stipulation are all dated 2002 onward, even though these coins were minted in previous years to prepare for the adoption of the euro. As a result, there are no euro coins dated 1999, 2000 and 2001 issued from countries with an issue date stipulation.

Luxembourg has no domestic mint, so their coins are minted elsewhere. Regardless of the mintage location of these coins, the issue date stipulation in their coinage act must be followed by whichever country mints their coins and the date stamp is therefore applied accordingly.

Since Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican City do not have their own coinage acts, the date stamp is applied in accordance with the coinage act of whichever country mints these coins. France produces the euro coins for Monaco and follows the mintage date stipulation; it began minting Monégasque euro coins only in 2001, since the mintage quantities were so low. Sammarinese and Vatican euro coins are minted in Italy and follow the issue date stipulation.

National identifying marks of euro coins

As per a recommendation defined by the Economic and Financial Affairs Council of the European Union,[1] the national designs of each member's euro coin should contain a national identification in the form of spelling or abbreviation of the country's name. Of the fifteen members of the Eurozone at the time these recommendations were made, five national designs—those of Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany and Greece—did not meet the criteria outlined. Of these five, two (Finland in 2007 and Belgium in 2008) have changed or amended their design to follow these recommendations, and the other three are expected to follow suit in the coming years.

National identifying marks on euro coins by country
Country Type Description Image
Andorra
Text ANDORRA
Austria Text REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH (only on commemorative €2 issues since 2007)
Symbol Flag of Austria
Belgium[2] Text BELGIE-BELGIQUE-BELGIEN
Symbol Monogram of King Albert II
Symbol Monogram of King Philippe
Abbreviation B (€2 commemorative coin 2006)
Abbreviation BE (België/Belgique/Belgien in Dutch, French and German)[3]
Croatia Text HRVATSKA
Symbol Croatian checkerboard
Cyprus Text ΚΥΠΡΟΣ/KIBRIS (in both Greek and Turkish)
Estonia Text EESTI (Estonia)
Finland Abbreviation FI (Finland)[4]
France Text RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE (French Republic in French) French 2 Euro coin 2011. The design features a tree symbolising life, continuity and growth, standing within a hexagon and encircled by the motto of the French Republic, "Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité" (Liberty, equality, fraternity)
Abbreviation stylised RF (République française)
Germany Text BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND (Federal Republic of Germany in German) (only on commemorative €2 issues until 2009 and commemorative €2 commonly issued coins until 2015)
Abbreviation D (only on commemorative €2 issues since 2010 (except commemorative €2 commonly issued coins from 2012 and 2015), not to be confused with Munich mint mark "D" on standard-issue designs of all denominations)
Symbol Depiction of the Bundesadler (Federal Eagle) (only on standard-issue €1 and €2 designs)
Greece[5] Text ΕΥΡΩΠΗ (EUROPA) 2 EYPΩ (Euro) Greek 2 Euro coin 2002 featuring the word Europa and depicting a woman sat astride a bull.
Edge Lettering ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ (Hellenic Republic in Greek) (only on commemorative €2 issues since 2007)
Ireland Text / Symbol éire (in Gaelic type) Harp
Italy Text REPUBBLICA ITALIANA (Italian Republic in Italian) Italian 1 Euro coin 2002. The design shows the famous drawing by Leonardo da Vinci, displayed in the gallery of the Academy in Venice, illustrating the ideal proportions of the human body.
Abbreviation stylised RI (Repubblica Italiana)
Latvia
Text LATVIJA
Symbol LV (€2 commemorative coin 2014-2015)
Lithuania
Text LIETUVA
Luxembourg Text LËTZEBUERG (Luxembourg in
Luxembourgish
)
Text LUXEMBOURG (Luxembourg in French)
Symbol monogram of Grand Duke Henri (€2 commemorative coin 2005)
Symbol lion (€2 commemorative coin 2018 and onwards)
Malta Text MALTA
Monaco
Text MONACO
Netherlands Text WILLEM-ALEXANDER KONING DER NEDERLANDEN (
Willem Alexander
, King of the Netherlands)
Text BEATRIX KONINGIN DER NEDERLANDEN (
Beatrix
, Queen of the Netherlands)
Text NEDERLAND (€2 commemorative coin 2009, 2012, 2015)
Text KONINKRIJK DER NEDERLANDEN (€2 commemorative coin 2007)
Portugal Text PORTUGAL
San Marino
Text SAN MARINO
Slovakia Text SLOVENSKO
Slovenia Text SLOVENIJA
Spain Text ESPAÑA
Vatican City Text CITTÀ DEL VATICANO (Vatican City)

Mint marks

The use of mint marks on euro coins takes one of these three forms:

  • a single letter representing a city or country
  • the abbreviation of the country's mint
  • the symbol of the country's mint
Mint marks on euro coins by country
Country Mint location Mint mark Mint mark description Notes
Belgium (2005-2017) Brussels Head of archangel
St. Michael, patron saint of Brussels
.
Prior to 2008, Belgian mark had only been used on commemorative issues. Since 2008, the mark is used on both standard issue and commemorative issue coins.
Belgium (2018–present) Utrecht, Netherlands Mercury's wand, the logo of the Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt (Royal Dutch Mint)
Finland Vantaa [4] Logo of the
Rahapaja Oy
mint
The Cornucopian logo was used until 2010. Since 2011, the logo is a heraldic lion.
France Pessac Cornucopia, Different of the Monnaie de Paris[6]
Germany German Euro coins are minted at 5 locations in Germany A, D, F, G, J Letters A for Berlin, D for Munich, F for Stuttgart, G for Karlsruhe, J for Hamburg,

while B, C, E and H used to be mint locations that had been closed prior to the introduction of the euro.

Greece (2002) Madrid, Spain
Pessac, France
Vantaa, Finland
Athens
E (20c),
F (1c, 2c, 5c, 10c and 50c),
S[7] (€1 and €2)
Letters E for Spain (España), F for France, S for Finland (Suomi).
The initial supply of Greek euro coins were produced at three locations, in addition to the Athens mint, due to their late entry into the European Monetary Union (EMU) just before the introduction date on 1 January 2002; only certain denominations of Greek coins with the date stamp of "2002" have these mint marks. Greek euro coins dated 2002 without these mint marks were produced in Athens, Greece.
All Greek euro coins bear the standard Greek mint mark symbol of the Athens mint.
Greece (2002–present) Athens Stylised acanthus leaf
Italy Rome R Letter
Lithuania Vilnius Lietuvos monetų kalykla (Lithuanian Mint House, LMK) logo
Luxembourg (2002–2004) Utrecht, Netherlands Mercury's wand, the logo of the
Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt
(Royal Dutch Mint)
Luxembourg (2005–2006) Vantaa, Finland S,[7] Letter, logo of the (Suomen)
Rahapaja Oy
mint
Luxembourg (2007–2008) Pessac, France F, Letter, Cornucopia, Different of the Monnaie de Paris[6]
Luxembourg (2009–present) Utrecht, Netherlands Mercury's wand, the logo of the Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt (Royal Dutch Mint)
Malta (2008, 2016-present) Paris, France F Letter
Malta (2009) Utrecht, Netherlands Mercury's wand, the logo of the Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt (Royal Dutch Mint) There were no standard issue coins in 2009, only one commemorative coin.
Monaco Pessac, France Cornucopia, Different of the Monnaie de Paris[6] (Paris Mint)
Netherlands Utrecht Mercury's wand, the logo of the Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt (Royal Dutch Mint)
Poland Warsaw Mennica Polska (Polish Mint) logo Poland is not yet part of the Eurozone. When the euro is introduced, this is the mintmark which will be used.
The Polish Mint logo is the letter M on top of the letter W and comes from Mennica Warszawa or Warsaw Mint
Portugal (2007–present) Lisbon INCM Imprensa Nacional – Casa de Moeda (National Currency – Mint House) abbreviation
Portugal (2020–present) Lisbon CASA DA MOEDA Mint House text This mark is only been used on commemorative issues.
San Marino Rome, Italy R Letter
Slovakia Kremnica Mincovňa Kremnica (Kremnican Mint, MK) logo
Slovenia (2007) Vantaa, Finland Fi[7] Abbreviation
Slovenia (2008) Utrecht, Netherlands Mercury's wand, the logo of the Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt (Royal Dutch Mint)
Spain Madrid Fábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre (National Factory of Currency and Stamps) logo
Vatican Rome, Italy R Letter

Mint master marks and privy marks

Mint master marks or privy marks are symbols representing directors, chief engravers or chief executive officers of mints.

Belgium

The directors of the Monnaie Royale de Belgique/Koninklijke Munt van België (Royal Belgian Mint) in Brussels uses mint master's marks on all

€2 commemorative coins
and on all Belgian euro coins with a datestamp from 2008 onwards minted at this location.

Mint master marks on Belgian euro coins
Mark Mark description Name of mint master Coin dates
Scale Romain Coenen 1999–2009 (
€2 commemorative coins
)
2008–2009 (standard issue euro coins)
[8] Quill Serge Lesens 2009-2012 (
€2 commemorative coins
)
2010–2012 (standard issue euro coins)
[9] Cat Bernard Gillard 2012-2016 (Commemorative coins)
2013-2016 (standard issue euro coins)
[10] Coat of arms of Herzele Ingrid van Herzele 2017–2022
[11] Aster and Erlenmeyer flask Giovanni Van de Velde 2023–present

Finland

The director of the

Rahapaja Oy
(Mint of Finland, LTD.) mint in Helsinki-Vantaa used a mint master's mark on Finnish euro coins minted at this location with the date stamp between 1999 and 2006.

Mint master mark on Finnish euro coins 1999–2006
Mark Mark description Name of mint master Coin dates
M Letter Raimo Makkonen 1999–2006

France

The directors of Monnaie de Paris in Pessac use mint master's marks on all French euro coins minted at this location.

Mint master marks on French euro coins
Mark Mark description Name of mint master Coin dates
Bee Pierre Rodier 1999–2000
Horseshoe Gérard Buquoy 2001–2002
Stylised heart with the initials of the mint master Serge Levet 2003
[6] Hunting horn, a wave and a fish Hubert Larivière 2004–2010
[12] Pentagon with letters AG, MP and YS Yves Sampo 2011–2020
[13] Square with letters JJ Joaquin Jimenez 2021–present

Luxembourg

Luxembourg euro coins dated 2002 were minted in the Netherlands in 2000 and thus bear the mint master mark of E. J. van Schauwenburg, Temporary Director of the Utrecht Mint during the year of coin production. The Coinage Act of Luxembourg stipulates that national coins cannot have a date stamp prior to the year of issue. Therefore, Luxembourg euro coins bear the mint master mark of the Temporary Director at the time of minting, despite the date on the coins.

Coins dated 2003–2004 bear the mint master mark of Maarten Brouwer, Director of the Utrecht Mint from 2003–2015. Luxembourgian euro coins dated 2005–2006 were produced at Rahapaja Oy (Mint of Finland), in Helsinki-Vantaa, Finland. Since the mint director does not affix a mint master mark to coins in production at that location, these coins do not bear a mint master mark but an S[7] and the logo of the 'Suomen Rahapaja' instead.

Luxembourg euro coins dated 2007-2008 were produced at Monnaie de Paris, in Pessac, France and bear the mint master mark of Hubert Larivière, Director of the Paris Mint.

As of 2009, coins are again minted at the Royal Dutch Mint in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Until 2015 it was again the mint master mark of Maarten Brouwer. From 2016-2017 Kees Bruinsma was the Temporary Director of the Utrecht Mint.

Mint master marks on Luxembourgian euro coins
Mark Mark description Name of mint master Coin dates
Bow and arrow with a star[14] E. J. van Schauwenburg 2002
Sailboat Maarten Brouwer 2003–2004
[6] Hunting horn, a wave and a fish Hubert Larivière 2007–2008
Sailboat Maarten Brouwer 2009–2015
Sailboat with a star[14] Kees Bruinsma 2016–2017
[15] St. Servatius Bridge Stephan Satijn 2017–2021
Raven Bert van Ravenswaaij 2022–present

Monaco

Monegasque euro coins are produced by Monnaie de Paris, in Pessac, France beginning in 2001 and thus bear the mint master mark of Gérard Buquoy, Serge Levet, Hubert Larivière and Yves Sampo Directors of the Mint from 2001–2002, 2003, 2004–2010 and 2011–present respectively.

Mint master marks on Monegasque euro coins
Mark Mark description Name of mint master Coin dates
Horseshoe Gérard Buquoy 2001–2002
Stylised heart with the initials of the mint master Serge Levet 2003
[6] Hunting horn, a wave and a fish Hubert Larivière 2004–2010[16]
[12] Pentagon with letters AG, MP and YS Yves Sampo 2011–2020
Square with letters JJ Joaquin Jimenez 2021–present

Netherlands

The mint masters of the Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt (Royal Dutch Mint) in Utrecht use mint master's marks on all Dutch euro coins minted at this location.[17]

Mint master marks on Dutch euro coins
Mark Mark description Name of mint master Coin dates
Bow and arrow Drs. Chr. van Draanen 1999
Bow and arrow with a star[14] E. J. van Schauwenburg 2000
Vine branch and fruits R. Bruens 2001
Vine branch and fruits with a star[14] Maarten Brouwer 2002
Sailboat Maarten Brouwer 2003–2015
Sailboat with a star[14] Kees Bruinsma 2016–2017
[18] St. Servatius Bridge Stephan Satijn 2017–present

Slovenia

Slovenian euro coins dated 2008 were produced at Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt in Utrecht, the Netherlands, and bear the mint master mark of Maarten Brouwer, director of the Royal Dutch Mint from 2003 until 2015.

Mint master mark on Slovenian euro coins 2008
Mark Mark description Name of mint master Coin dates
Sailboat Maarten Brouwer 2008

Designer, sculptor and engraver initials on euro coins

Each country had the opportunity to design its own national side of the euro coin. Most coins bear the initials or the name of the designer somewhere in the national design. For example, all eight motives of the common reverse sides of the euro coins bear the stylised initials "LL" for Luc Luycx.

Designer, sculptor and engraver initials on standard euro coins

Inscriptions of initials on standard issue euro coins by country
Euro coin denomination Inscription image Inscription text Name Title
France
1, 2, 5 cent F. COURTIADE Fabienne Courtiade designer
10, 20, 50 cent [19] L. JORIO d'ap. O.ROTY
Oscar Roty[20]
designer
1, 2 euro J. JIMENEZ Joaquim Jimenez designer
Greece
All denominations ΓΣ (stylised) Georges Stamatopoulos designer
Italy
1 cent ED (stylised) Eugenio Driutti engraver
2 cent LDS (stylised) Luciana De Simoni engraver
5 cent ELF Ettore Lorenzo Frapiccini engraver
10 cent CM Claudia Momoni engraver
20 cent M.A.C. Maria Angela Cassol engraver
50 cent M (stylised) Roberto Mauri engraver
1 euro LC (stylised) Laura Cretara engraver
2 euro M.C.C. Maria Carmela Colaneri engraver
Luxembourg
All denominations YGC (stylised) Yvette Gastauer-Claire designer
Malta
1, 2 and 5 cent NGB Noel Galea Bason designer
Portugal
All denominations VS (stylised) Vítor Manuel Fernandes dos Santos designer
San Marino (first series)
All denominations Ch (stylised) Frantisek Chochola sculptor
All denominations ELF INC.[21] Ettore Lorenzo Frapiccini engraver
San Marino (second series)
All denominations AL (stylised) Arno Ludwig sculptor
All denominations E.L.F MOD. Ettore Lorenzo Frapiccini engraver
Slovakia
1, 2, 5 cent Z Drahomír Zobek designer
10, 20, 50 cent JČ (stylised) and 'PK' (stylised) Ján Černaj and Pavol Károly designers
IŘ (stylised) Ivan Řehák designer
Vatican City (first series)
1, 2 and 5 cent GV • UP INC.[21] Guido Veroi
Uliana Pernazza
sculptor
engraver
10, 20 and 50 cent GV • UP INC.[21] Guido Veroi
Uliana Pernazza
sculptor
engraver
1 and 2 euro [19] GV • UP INC.[21] Guido Veroi
Uliana Pernazza
sculptor
engraver
Vatican City (second series)
All denominations D. LONGO Daniela Longo sculptor
1 cent M.A.C. INC.[21] Maria Angela Cassol engraver
2 cent LDS (stylised) INC.[21] Luciana De Simoni engraver
5 cent ELF INC.[21] Ettore Lorenzo Frapiccini engraver
10 cent M.C.C. INC.[21] Maria Carmela Colaneri engraver
20 cent M.A.C. INC.[21] Maria Angela Cassol engraver
50 cent LDS (stylised) INC.[21] Luciana De Simoni engraver
1 euro ELF INC.[21] Ettore Lorenzo Frapiccini engraver
2 euro M.C.C. INC.[21] Maria Carmela Colaneri engraver
Vatican City (third series)
All denominations D.L. Daniela Longo sculptor
1 and 2 cent LDS INC.[21] Luciana De Simoni engraver
5 cent ELF INC.[21] Ettore Lorenzo Frapiccini engraver
10 cent M.C.C. INC.[21] Maria Carmela Colaneri engraver
20 and 50 cent M.A.C. INC.[21] Maria Angela Cassol engraver
1 euro ELF INC.[21] Ettore Lorenzo Frapiccini engraver
2 euro M.C.C. INC.[21] Maria Carmela Colaneri engraver

Designer, sculptor and engraver initials on €2 commemorative coins

Inscriptions of initials on
€2 commemorative coins
by year
Country Inscription image Inscription text Name Title
2004
Finland M M Pertti Mäkinen
Raimo Makkonen
designer
mint master
Greece KK
ΠΓ
Konstantinos Kazakos
Panagiotis Gravvalos
designer
Italy UP (stylised) Uliana Pernazza engraver
Luxembourg YGC (stylised) Yvette Gastauer-Claire sculptor
San Marino E.L.F. Ettore Lorenzo Frapiccini engraver
Vatican
[19]
VEROI
L.D.S. INC.[21]
Guido Veroi
Luciana De Simoni
designer
engraver
2005
Belgium LL (stylised) Luc Luycx designer
Finland K Tapio Kettunen designer
Italy M.C.C. Maria Carmela Colaneri engraver
Luxembourg YGC (stylised)
PB (stylised)
Yvette Gastauer-Claire
Patrice Bernabei
sculptor
designer
San Marino LDS (stylised) INC.[21] Luciana De Simoni engraver
Vatican
[19]
LONGO
ELF INC.[21]
Daniela Longo
Ettore Lorenzo Frapiccini
designer
engraver
2006
Finland M (the two marks reflect the mirror motif of the coin) Raimo Makkonen mint master
Germany HH Heinz Hoyer designer
Italy M.C.C. Maria Carmela Colaneri engraver
San Marino LDS (stylised) Luciana De Simoni engraver
Vatican
O.ROSSI
MCC INC.[21]
Orietta Rossi
Maria Carmela Colaneri
designer
engraver
2007
Germany HH Heinz Hoyer designer
Monaco R.B.BARON R. B. Baron designer
Portugal [22] I Vilar (signature) Irene Vilar designer
San Marino E.L.F. Ettore Lorenzo Frapiccini engraver
Vatican
LONGO
MCC INC.[21]
Daniela Longo
Maria Carmela Colaneri
designer
engraver
2008
Finland K Tapio Kettunen sculptor
Germany OE (stylised) Erich Ott designer
Italy MCC Maria Carmela Colaneri engraver
Portugal Esc. J. Duarte João Duarte sculptor
San Marino [19] E.L.F. Ettore Lorenzo Frapiccini engraver
Vatican VEROI Guido Veroi engraver
2009
Germany FB Friedrich Brenner sculptor
Greece ΓΣ Georgios Stamatopoulos sculptor
Italy M.C.C. Maria Carmela Colaneri engraver
Portugal J.AURÉLIO José Aurélio plastic artist
San Marino A.M. Annalisa Masini engraver
Slovakia PK Pavol Károly engraver
Vatican O. ROSSI
M.C.C. INC.
Orietta Rossi
Maria Carmela Colaneri
designer
engraver
2010
Germany BB Bodo Broschat engraver
Greece ΓΣ Georgios Stamatopoulos sculptor
Italy C.M. Claudia Momoni engraver
Portugal JOSÉ CÂNDIDO José Cândido engraver
San Marino m Roberto Mauri engraver
Vatican VEROI
ELF INC.
Guido Veroi
Ettore Lorenzo Frapiccini
designer
engraver
2011
Finland V Hannu Veijalainen artist
Germany HH Heinz Hoyer engraver
Italy ELF INC. Ettore Lorenzo Frapiccini engraver
Portugal IC - FB Isabel Carriço and Fernando Branco designers
San Marino C.M. Claudia Momoni engraver
Slovakia MR Miroslav Rónai designer
Vatican O. ROSSI
M.C.C. INC.
Orietta Rossi
Maria Carmela Colaneri
designer
engraver
2012
Finland T Erja Tielinen sculptor
Germany Π(stylised) Erich Ott engraver
Italy M.C.C. Maria Carmela Colaneri engraver
Portugal JOSÉ DE GUIMARÃES José De Guimarães designer
Vatican G. TITOTTO
LDS INC.
Gabriella Titotto
Luciana De Simoni
designer
engraver
2013
Germany ER (stylised) Eugen Ruhl engraver
Greece ΣtΑΜ (stylised) Georgios Stamatopoulos engraver
Italy m (stylised)
MCC
Roberto Mauri
Maria Carmela Colaneri
engraver
engraver
Netherlands KЯCL (stylised)
P
Claudia Linders and Roosje Klap
Pannos Goutzemisis
designers
Portugal HUGO MACIEL Hugo Maciel designer
San Marino MOMONI Claudia Momoni engraver
Slovakia mh (stylised) Miroslav Hric designer
Vatican P. DANIELE
M.C.C. INC.
Patrizio Daniele
Maria Carmela Colaneri
sculptor
engraver
2014
Germany OE (stylised) Erich Ott engraver
Greece MA (stylised) Maria Andonatou engraver
Italy LDS (stylised)
C.M.
Luciana De Simoni
Claudia Momoni
engraver
engraver
Netherlands P Pannos Goutzemisis designer
Portugal JOSÉ TEIXEIRA José Teixeira designer
San Marino MCC
UP (stylised)
Maria Carmela Colaneri
Uliana Pernazza
engraver
engraver
Slovakia MP (stylised) Mária Poldaufová designer
Vatican G. TITOTTO
C.M. INC
Gabriella Titotto
Claudia Momoni
designer
engraver
2015
France .J (stylised) Joaquin Jimenez engraver
Germany HH
BW
Heinz Hoyer
Bernd Wendhut
engraver
sculptor
Greece ΓΣ
ΣtΑΜ (stylised)
Georgios Stamatopoulos engraver
Italy MGU
SP
Maria Grazia Urbani
Silvia Petrassi
engraver
engraver
Malta NGB Noel Galea Bason designer
Portugal A.M.
F Fonseca (signature)
António Marinho
Fernando Fonseca
designer
designer
San Marino AM
ES
Annalisa Masini
Erik Spiekermann
engraver
designer
Slovakia IŘ (stylised) Ivan Řehák designer
Vatican C. PRINCIPE
E.L.F. INC.
Chiara Principe
Ettore Lorenzo Frapiccini
designer
engraver
2016
Finland K Tapio Kettunen sculptor
Germany JT Jordi Truxa designer
Greece ΣtΑΜ (stylised) Georgios Stamatopoulos engraver
Italy LDS (stylised) Luciana De Simoni engraver
C.M. Claudia Momoni engraver
Malta NGB Noel Galea Bason designer
Portugal JOANA VASCONCELOS Joana Vasconcelos designer
San Marino MB Matt Bonaccorsi engraver
Slovakia VP (stylised) Vladimír Pavlica designer
Vatican M. CRISCIOTTI
MOMONI INC.
Mariangela Crisciotti
Claudia Momoni
designer
engraver
D.LONGO
SP INC
Daniela Longo
Silvia Petrassi
designer
engraver
2017
France .J (stylised) Joaquin Jimenez designer
Germany Ch (stylised) František Chocola designer
Greece ΣtΑΜ (stylised) Georgios Stamatopoulos engraver
Italy LDS (stylised) Luciana De Simoni engraver
C.M. Claudia Momoni engraver
Malta NGB Noel Galea Bason designer
Portugal LUIS FILIPE DE ABREU Luis Filipe de Abreu designer
San Marino LDS (stylised) Luciana De Simoni designer
A
UP INC.
Andrew Lewis
Uliana Pernazza
designer
engraver
Slovakia MP (stylised) Mária Poldaufová designer
Vatican O.ROSSI
SP INC. (stylised)
Orietta Rossi
Silvia Petrassi
designer
engraver
G.TITOTTO
MOMONI INC.
Gabriella Titotto
Claudia Momoni
designer
engraver
2018
Belgium LL (stylised) Luc Luycx designer
France .J (stylised) Joaquin Jimenez designer
Germany BB (stylised) Bodo Broschat designer
Greece ΣtΑΜ (stylised) Georgios Stamatopoulos engraver
Italy UP (stylised) Uliana Pernazza engraver
SP (stylised) Silvia Petrassi engraver
Lithuania JP Justas Petrassi designer
Malta NGB Noel Galea Bason designer
Portugal Eduardo Aires Eduardo Aires designer
San Marino LDS (stylised) Luciana De Simoni designer
A.M. Annalisa Masini designer
Slovakia PK (stylised) Pavol Károly designer
Vatican D.LONGO
C.M. INC.
Daniela Longo
Claudia Momoni
designer
engraver
P. DANIELE
V.D.S. INC.
Patrizio Daniele
Valerio De Seta
designer
engraver
2019
Belgium LL (stylised) Luc Luycx designer
France .J (stylised) Joaquin Jimenez designer
Germany MO (stylised) Michael Otto painter
Greece ΣtΑΜ (stylised) Georgios Stamatopoulos engraver
Italy M.A.C. Maria Angela Cassol engraver
Malta NGB Noel Galea Bason designer
Portugal L.F. ABREU Luis Filipe de Abreu designer
pomar (signature) Júlio Pomar designer
San Marino UP (stylised) Uliana Pernazza designer
M.A.C. Maria Angela Cassol designer
Slovakia PV (stylised) Peter Valach designer
Vatican D.LONGO
INC. A.M.
Daniela Longo
Annalisa Masini
designer
engraver
FUSCO
CASSOL INC.
Daniela Fusco
Maria Angela Cassol
designer
engraver
2020
Belgium LL (stylised) Luc Luycx designer
France .J (stylised) Joaquin Jimenez designer
Germany JT (stylised) Jordi Truxa designer
BB (stylised) Bodo Broschat designer
Greece ΣtΑΜ (stylised) Georgios Stamatopoulos engraver
Italy LDS (stylised) Luciana De Simoni engraver
Malta NGB Noel Galea Bason designer
Portugal ANDRÉ LETRIA André Letria designer
Esc. J.J. BRITO José João de Brito engraver
San Marino C.M. Claudia Momoni designer
A.M. Annalisa Masini designer
Slovakia PV (stylised) Peter Valach designer
Vatican D.LONGO
SP. A.M.
Daniela Longo
Silvia Petrassi
designer
engraver
G.TITOTTO
M.A.C. INC.
Gabriella Titotto
Maria Angela Cassol
designer
engraver
2021
Belgium LL (stylised) Luc Luycx designer
France .J (stylised) Joaquin Jimenez designer
Germany MO (stylised) Michael Otto painter
Greece ΣtΑΜ (stylised) Georgios Stamatopoulos engraver
Italy UP (stylised) Uliana Pernazza engraver
C.M. Claudia Momoni engraver
Malta NGB Noel Galea Bason designer
MAF (stylised) Maria Anna Frisone designer
Portugal EDUARDO AIRES Eduardo Aires designer
F.PROVIDÊNCIA Francisco Providência sculptor
San Marino SP (stylised) Claudia Momoni designer
VdS Valerio De Seta designer
Slovakia BR (stylised) Branislav Rónai designer
Vatican CP (stylised)
UP. INC.
Chiara Principe
Uliana Pernazza
designer
engraver
P.DANIELE
A.M. INC.
Patrizio Daniele
Annalisa Masini
designer
engraver

€2 edge inscriptions

With each member of the Eurozone comes a set of individual coin designs. Included in the individuality of the national obverse face of the euro coins, whose design is left to the member states, is the edge of the €2 coin. Each member was allowed to design a unique inscription that would appear on the €2 coin's edge. Some of these edge inscriptions are carried over from the coins of the yielded currencies in circulation prior to the introduction of the euro.

Standard issue €2 edge inscriptions

Standard €2 edge inscriptions by country
Country Edge inscription Description
Austria The sequence "2 EURO ★★★" repeated four times alternately upright and inverted.
Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Monaco, Spain The sequence "2 ★ ★" repeated six times alternately upright and inverted.
Croatia "O LIJEPA O DRAGA O SLATKA SLOBODO" ("Oh beautiful, oh dear, oh sweet freedom" in Croatian, from Dubravka).
Cyprus The sequence "2 ΕΥΡΩ 2 EURO" repeated twice (2 EURO in Greek and Turkish).
Estonia "EESTI ○" (ESTONIA in Estonian) upright and inverted.
Finland "SUOMI FINLAND" (FINLAND in Finnish and Swedish, the two official languages in Finland), followed by three lion's heads.
Germany "EINIGKEIT UND RECHT UND FREIHEIT" (UNITY AND JUSTICE AND FREEDOM in German), Germany's national motto and the beginning of Germany's national anthem, followed by the Federal Eagle.
Greece "ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ ★" (ELLINIKI DIMOKRATIA ★: "HELLENIC REPUBLIC" in Greek).
Italy, San Marino, Vatican The sequence "2 ★" repeated six times alternately upright and inverted.
Latvia "DIEVS ★ SVĒTĪ ★ LATVIJU ★" (GOD BLESS LATVIA)
Lithuania "LAISVĖ ★ VIENYBĖ ★ GEROVĖ ★" ("Freedom, Unity, Prosperity" in Lithuanian)
Malta The sequence "2✠✠" repeated six times alternately upright and inverted
Netherlands "GOD ★ ZIJ ★ MET ★ ONS ★" (GOD BE WITH US in Dutch). The same lettering had been applied to the larger denomination guilder coins.
Portugal The edge design features the seven castles and five coats of arms also found on the national side, all equally spaced.
Slovakia "SLOVENSKÁ REPUBLIKA" (SLOVAK REPUBLIC in Slovak) with two stars and linden leaf between.
Slovenia "SLOVENIJA •" (SLOVENIA in Slovene)

Commemorative issue €2 edge inscriptions

Generally the edge inscription of a

€2 commemorative coin
does not change from the standard issue counterpart. There are a few exceptions.

Commemorative €2 edge inscriptions by issue date
Year and Country Edge inscription Description
Finland (2005) "YK 1945–2005 FN" ("UN 1945–2005 UN" in Finnish and Swedish, the official languages of Finland) followed by three lion's heads. "YK" stands for "Yhdistyneet Kansakunnat" and "FN" stands for "Förenta Nationerna". Issued to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and Finland's 50 year membership in the UN.[23]
Finland (2007) "ROMFÖRDRAGET 50 ÅR EUROPA" ("TREATY OF ROME 50 YEARS EUROPE" in
Treaty of Rome.[24]
Finland (2009) "TALOUS-JA RAHALIITTO EMU" ("ECONOMIC AND MONETARY UNION EMU" in Finnish, one of the official languages of Finland. Issued to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union.

In 2008, a European Commission's recommendation was approved in which the following was stated: "The legend engraved on the edge of the commemorative euro coins intended for circulation must be the same as that on the normal euro coins intended for circulation."[25] In 2012, a European Regulation was approved in which, with a binding nature, the previous restriction was specified.[26]

Notes

  1. ^ "OJ 2005/ L 186/1" (PDF). Official Journal of the European Union. 18 July 2005.
  2. ^ Bank, European Central (2015-06-25). "Belgium". European Central Bank. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  3. ^ As applied to the 2008 amended design onward.
  4. ^ a b As applied to the 2007 amended design onward.
  5. ^ Bank, European Central (2015-06-25). "Greece". European Central Bank. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Monnaie de Paris "About our mint master's mark"". Archived from the original on 2008-05-05. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
  7. ^ a b c d Coins minted in Finland have "FI", "F" or "S" as the mint mark.
  8. ^ "Lesens, Serge".
  9. ^ "2012-2016) Cat (Bernard Gillard coin catalogue - Buying - Selling - Collecting".
  10. ^ "Wapenschild van Herzele op euromunten". Het Laatste Nieuws (in Dutch). 2016-09-09. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  11. ^ "Giovanni Van de Velde".
  12. ^ a b "Gijsbertus Willem de Wit (1926-2018)". 11 December 2018.
  13. ^ "Joaquin Jimenez-nomme-graveur-general-des-monnaies". 21 July 2020.
  14. ^ a b c d e The star represents a temporary director.
  15. ^ "Onthulling nieuw Muntmeesterteken".
  16. ^ There are no Monegasque coins issued into general circulation with this mint master mark on them. Coins minted from 2004–2006 were minted in proof quality for collector sets only and none were produced in 2007.
  17. ^ The span between 1999 and 2003 marks the first time in Dutch currency history where five different mint master's marks were used in consecutive years.
  18. ^ "Onthulling nieuw Muntmeesterteken".
  19. ^ a b c d e The image has been rotated 90 degrees clockwise for presentation purposes.
  20. Oscar Roty
    created the famous character of La Semeuse (the Sower) for the silver coins of the 3rd Republic. The 'Sower' is represented on the 10, 20 and 50 cent French euro coins. The original design of that character is attributed to him in this inscription.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w INC is the Italian abbreviation for 'engraver'.
  22. ^ The image has been rotated 90 degrees counter-clockwise for presentation purposes.
  23. ^ 2005 commemorative euro coins from the European Commission
  24. ^ Celebrating 50 years of Europe with the euro from the European Commission
  25. ^ COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION of 19 December 2008 on common guidelines for the national sides and the issuance of euro coins intended for circulation
  26. ^ COUNCIL REGULATION (EU) No 566/2012 of 18 June 2012 amending Regulation (EC) No 975/98 on denominations and technical specifications of euro coins intended for circulation

References