COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 29.05.1997 
COM(97) 247 final 
97/0154(SYN) 
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION 
TO THE COUNCIL. THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE 
EUROPEAN MONETARY INSTITUTE 
DENOMINATIONS AND TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OF EURO COINS 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) 
on denominations and technical specifications of euro coins 
(presented by the Commission) 

1. Introduction 
On 1 January 1999, the euro will become the single currency of participating Member 
States. Exchange rates between participating currencies will be fixed irrevocably from 1 
January 1999 and one single authority, the European Central Bank, will define the 
monetary policy of the euro. The new euro notes and coins will begin to circulate by 1 
January 2002 at the latest. 
Work on selecting the technical specifications of the coins (their size, shape, colour, metal 
composition, edging, etc.) and their denominations is the responsibility of the Council to 
the extent necessary to permit their smooth circulation within the Community. The 
preparatory work on the technical specifications began in 1992 when a working group of 
the Mint Directors of Member States was given a mandate by Finance ministers of 
Member States to study the possibilities and produce a complete proposal. On the basis of 
the technical work provided by the Mint Directors and after consulting various user 
organisations, the European Commission is now formally presenting a proposal to the 
Council in the form of a Regulation under Article 105a (2) of the Treaty. 
By proposing the Regulation at this stage, the Commission is following a procedure used 
in other Regulations relating to the introduction of the single currency to allow for early 
political agreement, such that its formal adoption in 1998 will be a mere formality. The 
Commission suggests seeking political endorsement of the draft Regulation at the meeting 
of the European Council in Amsterdam in June 1997. The remaining stages of the 
decision-making procedure (co-operation with the European Parliament in accordance 
with Article 189c and consultation of the EMI) will also proceed on the same informal 
basis, allowing coin production to begin before the Regulation enters into force. 
A timely endorsement is particularly important. The European Council in Madrid in 
December 1995 agreed that euro coins would be introduced by 1 January 2002 at the 
latest. An earlier date of introduction of notes and coins is not to be ruled out. The Mint 
Directors estimate that producing the necessary quantities of euro coins will take three 
years. Blank procurement procedures should be launched at least six months before the 
start of coin production, and in order to prepare the necessary materials for the blanks, the 
technical specifications must be known at least six months before that. 
The complete proposal is attached as annex 1. The guiding principles behind the proposal 
are that the coins should be easy to use and recognise, acceptable to all major groups of 
users and safe. To ensure that all these often competing aims were met, user groups were 
thoroughly consulted. 
2. Denominations 
There will be eight denominations (1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and 1 and 2 euro). These 
were chosen in agreement with the EMI. The aim is to create a sequence which, together 
with the denomination of notes (from 5 euro to 500 euro), will allow payments by cash to 
be as easy as possible. 
3. Tactile characteristics to help recognition 
It is crucial that the coins are easy to use and recognise. The series of coins is split into 
three sequences which vary by shape, weight, colour and thickness. Several innovative 
features were included to help all consumers, but particularly the blind and visually 
impaired, to recognise the coins from each other, notably: 
differences in the edging of each consecutive coin in the series; 
a groove on the edge of the 2 cent coin; 
a "Spanish flower" shape for the 20 cent coin. 
4. Choice of metal 
The choice of metal has important consequences for both security and health. The vast 
majority of Member States use nickel in their coins (around 75% of the coins). However, 
in 1994 the Council and the European Parliament adopted a directive (94/27/CE) limiting 
the use of nickel in certain products in recognition that nickel can be a cause of allergies 
under certain conditions. Although coins are excluded from this directive, some Member 
States already use a nickel-free alloy called Nordic Gold in their current coinage system 
for reasons of public health. It seems desirable to reduce the nickel content of coins when 
moving to a new coinage system. As a result, six out of the eight coins are entirely nickel-
free. Only the 1 and 2 euro coins, which represent around 8% of the total amount of 
coins, would contain some nickel. 
Because of their high values, the 1 and 2 euro need additional security features to reduce 
the scope for fraud. Two special features are proposed: first the coins are in two colours, 
and second they use a "sandwich" technique whereby the coin is made in three layers. The 
technical complexities involved mean that, with present technology, it would be very 
difficult to test, develop and produce an alternative to nickel alloys for these coins within 
the deadline for the introduction of euro coins before 1 January 2002. 
Nevertheless, out of concern for public health, the Commission will use the CRAFT 
project of the fourth framework programme for further research regarding the treatment 
of metals allowing the allergenic effects of nickel to be neutralised. Furthermore, the 
Commission will consult the Scientific Committee for Toxicity and Ecotoxicity of 
Chemical Compounds and make an evaluation of its results. 
5. Consultations 
Extensive consultations were held with all the main user groups, in particular the Euro 
Working Group of the Consumer Committee (including the blind and visually impaired) 
and representatives of the vending machine industry. 
6. Designs 
The designs of the face of the coins are being chosen under a different procedure. Member 
States exercising their competence decided that the coins will have one common face 
showing a European subject and the value, and one face showing a national symbol 
surrounded by the 12 stars of the Union. Each Member State is responsible for choosing 
the corresponding national face. A European competition co-ordinated by the Commission 
is underway to select the common face. The winning design will be chosen at the meeting 
of the European Council in Amsterdam in June 1997 and announced to the public shortly 
afterwards. 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
1. INTRODUCTION - GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS 
Principal objectives of the proposals 
According to Art. 105 a(2) of the Treaty, the responsability of issuing coins is up to 
Member States. However, the Council may adopt measures to harmonize the 
denominations and technical specifications of coins to permit their smooth 
circulation within the Community. 
The European Council in Madrid in December 1995 agreed that euro coins would 
be introduced by 1 January 2002 at the latest. An earlier date of introduction is not 
to be ruled out. The European Mint Directors estimate that that three years will be 
necessary for producing the quantities of euro coins required on the introduction 
date The technical characteristics of the euro coins must be known at least one year 
before production may start to allow the time necessary for blank procurement. 
Article 105 a(2) applies from the beginning of the third stage of economic and 
monetary union. According to the Treaty the decision is to be taken by participating 
Member States. 
By proposing the Regulation at this stage the Commission aims at allowing for an 
early political agreement, such that its formal adoption will be a mere formality. 
The objective of the proposal for a Council Regulation is to define uniform 
specifications for the first series of coins in euro in order to guarantee their smooth 
circulation within the Community. 
The proposed specifications have been defined with the aim to ensure that coins are 
easy to use and recognise, acceptable to the major groups of users and safe. 
2. COMMENTS ON THE ARTICLES OF THE PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL REGULATION 
ON DENOMINATIONS AND TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OF THE EURO COINS 
Article 1 
This articles provides for the denominations and techical characteristics of the eight 
euro coins. 
The denominations have been fixed to ensure that cash payments of amounts expressed 
in euro and cent can be made easily. 
k 
The diameter and weight of the proposed coins increase with increasing value of the 
coin. 
Diameter, thickness and weight are inter-dependent variables which are related to the 
coin composition. A change in the choice of the material might therefore modify at 
least one of these variables. 
The proposed shapes, colours and edge milling are aimed to facilitate recognition of 
the coins. 
The composition and the edge lettering features guarantee the security of the coins 
against counterfeiting. 
Article 2 
This article determines the entry into force. The Regulation will enter into force on 
1 January 1999. 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) 
on denominations and technical specifications of euro coins 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 
Having regard to the treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular 
Article 105a (2) thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European Central Bank, 
In cooperation with the European Parliament, 
(1) Whereas, at the meeting of the European Council in Madrid on 15 and 16 
December 1995 the scenario for the changeover to the single currency was 
adopted which provides for introduction of coins in euro by 1 January 2002 at the 
latest; 
(2) Whereas Article 105a (2) of the Treaty states that "Member States may issue 
coins subject to approval by the ECB of the volume of the issue. The Council 
may, acting in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 189c and after 
consulting the ECB, adopt measures to harmonize the denominations and 
technical specifications of all coins intended for circulation to the extent necessary 
to permit their smooth circulation within the Community"; 
(3) Whereas the European Monetary Institute has indicated that euro banknotes will 
range from 5 euro to 500 euro; whereas the denominations of banknotes and coins 
will need to allow that cash payments of amounts expressed in euro and cent can 
be made easily; 
(4) Whereas the EC Mint Directors were mandated by the Monetary Committee to 
study and elaborate a complete proposal for a European single coinage system; 
whereas they submitted a proposal in November 1996 then a revised proposal in 
February 1997 indicating the denominations and technical specifications 
(diameter, thickness, weight, colour, composition and edge) of the new euro 
coins. 
(5) Whereas consultations with consumers associations, the European Blind Union 
and representatives of the vending machines industry have been carried out to 
take into account the specific requirements of important categories of coins users; 
whereas, in order to ensure a smooth changeover to the euro and facilitate 
acceptance of the new coinage systems by users, easy distinction between coins 
through visual and tactile characteristics will need to be guaranteed; 
(6) Whereas some special security features are needed to reduce the scope for fraud 
for the 1 and 2 euro given their high value; whereas the use of a technique 
whereby coins are made in three layer and the combination of two different 
colours in the coin are considered to be the most efficient security features 
available today; 
(7) Whereas in 1994 the Council and the European Parliament adopted a Directive 
(94/27/CE) limiting the use of nickel in certain products in recognition that nickel 
could be a cause of allergies under certain conditions; whereas coins are not 
covered by this Directive; whereas nevertheless some Member States already use 
a nickel-free alloy called Nordic Gold in their current coinage system for reasons 
of public health; whereas it seems desirable to reduce the nickel content of coins 
when moving to a new coinage system, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
1 
Article 1 
The first series of euro coins will include eight denominations in the range from 1 cent 
to 2 euro with the following technical specifications: 
Face 
value 
(euro) 
2 
1 
0.50 
0.20 
0.10 
0.05 
0.02 
0.01 Diameter 
in mm. 
25.75 
23.25 
24.25 
22.25 
19.75 
21.75 
18.75 
16.25 Thickness 
in mm. 
1.95 
2.125 
1.69 
1.63 
1.51 
1.41 
1.36 
1.32 Weight 
ingr. 
8.5 
7.5 
7 
5.7 
4.1 
3.9 
3 
2.2 Shape 
Round 
Round 
Round 
"Spanish 
flower" 
shape 
Round 
Round 
Round 
Round Colour 
Ext. part: 
while 
Inl.part: 
yellow 
Ext. part: 
yellow 
Int.part: 
White 
Yellow 
Yellow 
Yellow 
Red 
Red 
Red Composition 
Copper-nickel 
(Cu75Ni25) 
three-layer 
Nickel-brass/Nickel/ Nickel-
brass 
CuZn20Ni5/Nil2/CuZn20Ni5 
Nickel-brass 
(CuZn20Ni5) 
three-layer 
Cu75Ni25/Ni7/Cu75Ni25 
Nordic Gold 
Cu89A15Zn5Snl 
Nordic Gold 
Cu89A15Zn5Snl 
Nordic Gold 
Cu89A15Zn5Snl 
Copper covered steel 
Copper covered steel 
Copper covered steel Edge 
Edge lettering 
Fine milled 
Interrupted 
milled 
Coarse 
milled 
Plain 
Coarse 
milled 
Smooth 
Smooth with a 
groove 
Smooth 
Article 2 
This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 January 1999. 
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(97) 247 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 09 io 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-97-263-EN-C 
ISBN 92-78-20780-2 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
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