Council Resolution of 19 January 1998 on denominations and technical specifications of euro coins intended for circulation
Date: 1998-01-19
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: Economic and Monetary Union, euro, paper money, price of securities, technical specification

2.2.98

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

C  35/5

COUNCIL  RESOLUTION

of  19  January  1998

on  denominations  and  technical  specifications  of  euro  coins  intended  for  circulation

(98/C  35/02)

THE  COUNCIL  OF  THE  EUROPEAN  UNION,

Whereas  on  20  November  1997  the  Council  adopted  a
common  position  with  a  view  to  adopting  a  Council
Regulation on denominations and technical specifications
of  euro  coins  intended  for  circulation,  after  having
consulted  the  European  Parliament  and  the  European
Monetary  Institute  in  accordance  with  Articles  105a(2)
and  109f(8)  of  the  EC  Treaty;

reexamining 

Whereas  after 
following
amendments  proposed  by  the  European  Parliament,  the
Commission took over the said common position in view
of  the  adoption  of  the  said  Regulation;

its  proposal 

Whereas the said Regulation will be formally adopted by
the  Council,  in  accordance  with  the  said  common
position as set out in the Annex hereto, taking account of
the  provisions  of  Article  109k(3),  (4)  and  (5)  of  the  EC
Treaty, once the Decision on the Member States adopting
the  euro  has  been  taken,  as  early  as  possible  in  1998;
whereas  the  said  Regulation  will  then  become  legally
binding;

Whereas,  in  the  interests  of  transparency,  it  is  desirable
that this Resolution be published forthwith in the Official
Journal,

HAS  DECIDED  to  publish  this  Resolution  and  the  Annex
thereto  for  information  in  the  Official  Journal  of  the
European  Communities.

C  35/6

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

2.2.98

ANNEX

Draft

COUNCIL  REGULATION  (EC)  No  .../98

of  ...

on  denominations  and  technical  specifications  of  euro  coins  intended  for  circulation

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 (1),

Having  regard  to  the  opinion  of  the  European  Monetary
Institute (2),

Acting  in  accordance  with  the  procedure  laid  down  in
Article  189c  of  the  Treaty (3),

(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
euro coins by 1 January 2002 at the latest; whereas
the  precise  date  for  the  issue  of  euro  coins  will  be
decided  when  the  Council  adopts  its  regulation  on
the  introduction  of  the  euro  immediately  after  the
decision  on  the  Member  States  adopting  the  euro
as  the  single  currency  has  been  taken  as  early  as
possible  in  1998;

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  five
euro  to  500  euro;  whereas  the  denominations  of
banknotes  and  coins  will  need  to  allow  for  cash
payments  of  amounts  expressed  in  euro  and  cent
to  be  made  easily;

(4)  Whereas  the  mint  directors  of  the  Community
received  a  mandate  from  the  Council  to  study  and
elaborate  a  report  for  a  European  single  coinage
system;  whereas 
in
November  1996  followed  by  a  revised  report  in
February  1997  indicating  the  denominations  and
technical 
thickness,
weight,  colour,  composition  and  edge)  of  the  new
euro  coins;

they  submitted  a  report 

specifications 

(diameter, 

(5)  Whereas  the  new  European  single  coinage  system
should 
induce  public  confidence  and  entail
technological innovations that would establish it as
a  secure,  reliable  and  efficient  system;

(2)  Whereas,  according  to  Article  105a(2)  of  the
Treaty,  Member  States  may  issue  coins  subject  to
approval  by  the  ECB  of  the  volume  of  the  issue
and  the  Council  may,  acting  in  accordance  with
the  procedure  referred  to  in  Article  189c  and  after
consulting  the  ECB,  adopt  measures  to  harmonize

(6)  Whereas  the  acceptance  of  the  new  system  by  the
is  one  of  the  main  objectives  of  the
public 
Community 
system;  whereas  public
confidence in the new system would depend on the
physical  characteristics  of  the  euro  coins,  which
should  be  as  user-friendly  as  possible;

coinage 

(1)  OJ  C  208,  9.7.1997,  p.  5,  and  OJ  C  386,  20.12.1997,

p.  12.

(2)  Opinion  delivered  on  25  June  1997  (OJ  C  205,  5.7.1997,

p.  18).

(3)  Opinion  of  the  European  Parliament  of  6  November  1997
(not yet published in the Official Journal), Council Common
Position  of  20  November  1997  (OJ  C  23,  23.1.1998,  p.  1)
and  Decision  of  the  European  Parliament  of  (not  yet
published  in  the  Official  Journal).

(7)  Whereas consultations with consumer 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  coin  users;  whereas,  in
order  to  ensure  a  smooth  changeover  to  the  euro
and  to  facilitate  acceptance  of  the  new  coinage

2.2.98

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

C  35/7

systems  by  users,  easy  distinction  between  coins
through  visual  and  tactile  characteristics  will  need
to  be  guaranteed;

(8)  Whereas  the  new  euro  coins  will  be  more  readily
distinguishable  and  easier  to  become  accustomed
to if there is a link between their diameter and face
value;

(9)  Whereas  certain  special  security 

features  are
needed  in  order  to  reduce  the  scope  for  fraud  for
the  one  and  two  euro  given  their  high  value;
whereas  the  use  of  a  technique  whereby  coins  are
made  in  three  layers  and  the  combination  of  two
different  colours  in  the  coin  are  considered  to  be
the  most  efficient  security 
features  available
today;

(10)  Whereas  giving  the  coins  one  European  and  one
national  side  is  an  appropriate  expression  of  the
idea  of  European  monetary  union  between
Member  States  and  could  significantly  increase  the
degree  of  acceptance  of  the  coins  by  European
citizens;

(11)  Whereas  on  30 

June  1994 

the  European
Parliament  and  the  Council  adopted  Directive
94/27/EC (1),  which  limited  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  that  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;

(12)  Whereas  it  is  therefore  appropriate  to  follow  in
principle  the  proposal  of  the  aforesaid  Mint
Directors  and  to  adapt  it  only  to  the  extent
necessary  to  take  into  account  in  particular  the
specific  requirements  of  important  categories  of
coin users and the need to reduce the use of nickel
in  coins;

(13)  Whereas  of  all  prescribed  technical  specifications
for euro coins, only the value for thickness is of an
indicative  nature,  since  actual  thickness  of  a  coin
depends  on  prescribed  diameter  and  weight,

HAS  ADOPTED  THIS  REGULATION:

Article  1

first  series  of  euro  coins  will 

include  eight
The 
denominations  in  the  range  from  one  cent  to  two  euro
with  the  following  technical  specifications:

(1)  OJ  L  188,  22.7.1994,  p.  1.

C  35/8

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

2.2.98

Face value
(euro)

Diameter
in  mm

Thickness
in  mm (1)

Weight
in  g

Shape

Colour

Composition

Edge

2

1

25,75

1,95

8,5

Round

23,25

2,125

7,5

Round

External  part:
white

Internal  part:
yellow

External  part:
yellow

Copper-nickel  (Cu75Ni25)

Edge  lettering

Three-layer
Nickel-brass/Nickel/Nickel-brass
CuZn20Ni5/Ni12/CuZn20Ni5

Fine  milled

Nickel-brass  (CuZn20Ni5)

Interrupted  milled

Internal  part:
white

Three-layer
Cu75Ni25/Ni7/Cu75Ni25

0,50

24,25

1,69

7

Round

Yellow

Nordic  gold
Cu89Al5Zn5Sn1

Coarse  milled

0,20

22,25

1,63

5,7

‘Spanish  flower’
shape

Yellow

Nordic  gold
Cu89Al5Zn5Sn1

Plain

0,10

19,75

1,51

4,1

Round

Yellow

0,05

21,25

1,36

3,9

Round

0,02

18,75

1,36

3

Round

0,01

16,25

1,36

2,3

Round

(1)  The  values  relating  to  the  thickness  are  of  an  indicative  nature.

Red

Red

Red

Article  2

Nordic  gold
Cu89Al5Zn5Sn1

Coarse  milled

Copper  covered  steel

Smooth

Copper  covered  steel

Smooth  with  a
groove

Copper  covered  steel

Smooth

This  Regulation  shall  enter  into  force  on  1  January  1999.

Done  at  Brussels,  ...

For  the  Council

The  President

...