Communication from the Commission on the recommendation of 29 September 2003 concerning a common practice for changes to the design of national obverse sides of euro circulation coins
Date: 2003-10-15
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: euro, monetary union, money, technical specification

15.10.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 247/5

Communication from the Commission on the recommendation of 29 September 2003 concerning
a common practice for changes to the design of national obverse sides of euro circulation coins (1)

(2003/C 247/03)

1. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

2.(a) Normal euro circulation coins

The Council agreed in 1996 that there would be distinctive
national symbols on the obverse of euro circulation coins and
that there should be a common design on the reverse. Member
States later also agreed that national obverses should bear 12
stars surrounding the design in order to facilitate recognition
by the general public. In 1998, the Council concluded that . . .
‘[t]here should be a moratorium on issues of commemorative
coins intended for circulation in the early years of the new
notes and coins.’ As regards possible changes to the national
sides of euro circulation coins, no specific provisions, legislative
or otherwise, exist for the moment.

No changes should be made to the ‘standard’ (2) national side of
the euro circulation coins until the end of 2008, except if the
Head of State who is depicted on a coin changes. Prior to the
expiration of this moratorium, a review will be carried out in
order to examine whether it should be further extended or
whether other rules should be considered.

The introduction of the euro coins in January 2002 has created
a variety of coin designs as 96 different coins have been
brought
into circulation by the twelve euro area Member
States alone. This diversity is a source of interest for many
European citizens and has no doubt contributed to the wide
acceptance of the coins by the public. At the same time, some
common rules, both for the ‘normal’ and the commemorative
euro circulation coins (see annex for a definition of
the
different types of euro coins), would contribute to ensuring
that the diversity of coins should not give rise to uncertainty
among the public.
In addition, parties handling coins on a
professional basis (banks, cash-in-transit companies, vending
machine operators, etc.) should be informed well in advance
of upcoming changes. Finally, while there should be sufficient
leeway to accommodate Member States' traditions with regard
to the issuance of coins, it would be appropriate to ensure a
certain degree of consistency between the different national
policies.

2. THE CONTENT OF THE RECOMMENDATION

The attached Recommendation is based on discussions with
Member States and sets out a certain number of rules on
changes to the national sides. These changes can be twofold.
They can result from a general change to the national sides
for
introduced by a Member State for a particular reason,
instance because the Head of State who is depicted on a
coin changes. Alternatively, new national sides can result
from the issuance of commemorative euro circulation coins.
This Recommendation aims
common
framework for changes to the national sides of both normal
and commemorative euro circulation coins, while allowing
Member States to continue their national traditions in this field.

establishing

at

a

2.(b) Commemorative euro circulation coins

The moratorium on the issuance of commemorative euro
circulation coins should be lifted from 2004 onwards, subject
to a number of conditions. One issue per year and per Member
State at most should be permitted. Commemorative issues
should moreover be limited to a single coin denomination,
following previous practice in several countries. The 2-euro
coin appears to be the most appropriate denomination for
several reasons: the large diameter makes it very suitable for
the representation of designs, while the bi-metallic technology
and further technical properties offer very adequate protection
against counterfeiting. The high denomination moreover allows
covering the production costs and ensuring a certain revenue
for the issuer since many coins will be collected by the public.

The total issuing volume should be limited in order to avoid
commemorative euro circulation coins either crowding out
normal 2-euro circulation coins or having them issued over
extended periods,
in which case a commemorative issue
would in substance amount to a change to the national side.
On the other hand, the issuing volume should be large enough
to allow for effective circulation, at
least during a certain
period. Very small volumes of commemorative coins would
indeed, due to their relative scarcity, become collector items
rather than circulation coins. The proposed ceilings constitute a
balance which takes into account both the total national
issuing volume of 2-euro coins and the total euro area
issuing volume of this denomination. The two-tier approach
leaves countries the choice between the highest of two issuing
ceilings, i.e. either 0,1 % of the total euro area circulation or
5,0 % of the cumulative national issuing volume of the 2-euro
coins. Exceptionally, the 0,1 % ceiling can be increased up to
2,0 % for the commemoration of a truly global and highly
symbolic event, subject to the condition that the respective
Member State refrains from launching a commemorative euro
circulation coin issue of
similar volume during the
a
subsequent four years.

(1) OJ L 264, 15.10.2003.

(2) OJ C 373, 28.12.2001, p. 1.

C 247/6

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

15.10.2003

2.(c) Rues on prior information

Member States are invited to inform the Commission at least six
months in advance about new national sides to be introduced
(both normal and commemorative euro circulation coins). This
information should i.a. include a copy of the new design, a short
description of
the event or
the design, an explanation of
personality to be commemorated, the denomination concerned,

information in the Official

the starting date for the issue of the coin, the issuing volume
(for commemoratives) and the estimated issuing period (for
commemoratives). The Commission will officially publish all
relevant
the European
Union in order to make it available to all parties concerned.
Coin issues
and highly
symbolic event, and having a total
issue volume exceeding
0,1 % of
the total circulation of 2-euro coins, should be
approved by the Economic and Financial Committee.

commemorating

Journal of

global

truly

a

ANNEX

EURO COIN DEFINITIONS

Euro circulation coins (both normal and commemorative)

In accordance with Article 106(2) of the Treaty, the Council has harmonised the denominations and technical specifi-
cations of all coins intended for circulation in Council Regulation (EC) No 975/98 of 3 May 1998 as amended by (EC)
No 423/1999 of 22 February 1999. In accordance with Article 11 of Council Regulation (EC) No 974/98 of 3 May
1998 these coins shall be the only ones having legal tender status throughout the euro area.

Commemorative euro circulation coins

All euro commemorative coins form part of the euro circulation coins. However, they have a different national side
from the standard one (the common side is identical), which is usually destined to commemorate an event or a
personality. Commemoratives are usually issued during a certain period of
time and for limited volumes. The
concept of commemorative euro circulation coins was established in view of existing traditions in this area.

Euro collector coins (not intended for circulation)

Euro collector coins are not destined for circulation and must be easily distinguishable from coins intended for
circulation. To this end, Ecofin Ministers decided on 31 January 2000 that among others:

— their face value has to be different;

— they should not use images which are similar to the common sides of the coins intended for circulation.
Furthermore, as far as possible the designs should also be at least slightly different from the national sides of
circulation coins;

— colour, diameter and weight should differ significantly from the coins intended for circulation in at least two of

these three characteristics.

It was moreover decided that the legal tender status of these coins should be limited to the country of issue. Euro
collector coins are typically produced in precious metals (gold and silver).