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GERMANY |
Since 2002
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The 2 € coin shows the emblem of the federal eagle, the symbol of German sovereignty. They were designed by Heinz and Snechana Russewa-Hoyer.
The edge lettering on the 2 € coin consists of the words 'EINIGKEIT UND RECHT UND FREIHEIT' (unity, justice and freedom) and the design of the federal eagle. |
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| Designer : H. & S. Hoyer |
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AUSTRIA |
Since 2002
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The 2 € coin shows the portrait of the radical pacifist Bertha von Suttner, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1905. The edge lettering on the 2 € coin is ‘2 EURO ***’, repeated four times, alternately upright and inverted. |
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| Designer : J. Kaiser |
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BELGIUM |
1999 - 2007
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The 2 € coin shows the effigy of His Majesty Albert II, King of the Belgians, encircled by the twelve stars of the European Union with the royal monogram (capital 'A' and crown) to the right.
The edge lettering on the 2 € coin is 2**, repeated six times, alternately upright and inverted. |
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| Designer : J. A. Keustermans |
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2008
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In 2008, Belgium made a slight modification to the design of its national side in order to comply with the common guidelines recommended by the European Commission. The new national side continues to bear the effigy of His Majesty Albert II, King of the Belgians, encircled by twelve stars, but the royal monogram and the date of issuance now feature in the inner part of the coin – not in the outer ring – together with two new elements: the mint marks and the abbreviation of the country name (‘BE’). Coins from previous years featuring the old Belgian national face nevertheless remain valid. |
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| Designer : J. A. Keustermans |
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Since 2009
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The national side was modified for the third time. As the 2008 modification did not comply with the regulations, the 2009 version comes back to the original portrait of His Majesty Albert II as it appeared on all coins between 2002 and 2007, only it size has been slightly reduced. |
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| Designer : J. A. Keustermans |
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CYPRUS |
Since 2008
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The 2 € coin reproduces the idol of Pomos, a cross-shaped idol dating back to the Chalcolitic period (ca. 3000 BC), representing the country’s contribution to civilisation since prehistoric times. |
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| Designer : T. Soteropoulos & E. Maell |
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SPAIN
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1999 - 2009
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The 2 € coin shows a portrait of His Majesty King Juan Carlos I de Borbón y Borbón.
The edge lettering on the 2 euro coin is ‘2**’ repeated six times, alternately upright and inverted. |
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| Designer : L. J. Diãz |
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Since 2010
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In 2010, Spain revises the design of its national side in order to comply with the common guidelines recommended by the European Commission, as endorsed by the Council conclusions of 10 February 2009. The new national side will continue to bear the same effigy of His Majesty King Juan Carlos I, but the year mark will now feature in the inner part of the coin, together with the mint mark and the name of the issuing country. The twelve stars in the outer ring will now be depicted as on the European flag, with no raised section around them. |
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| Designer : L. J. Diãz |
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ESTONIA |
Since 2011
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The 2 € coin features a geographical image of Estonia accompanied by the word "Eesti" and the year "2011".
The edge lettering of the 2 € coin is "EESTI"", repeated twice upright and inverted.
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| Designer : L. Lõhmus |
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FINLAND |
1999 - 2006
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The 2 € coin shows cloudberries and cloudberry flowers from Lapland and was designed in 1988 by Raimo Heino. The edge lettering consists of the words ‘SUOMI FINLAND ***’, where * represents three lion heads. |
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| Designer : R. Heino |
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Since 2007
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In Decembre 2006, the Bank of Finland anounced that "National sides of euro coins will be modified : every issuing member country will have to add its name or an abbreviation (FI for Finland) on its coins. On Finnish coins, the initial of the Treasurer and President of the Bank of Finland will be replaced with the logo of the Bank."
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| Designer : R. Heino |
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FRANCE |
Since 1999
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On the 2 € coin, a tree symbolising life, growth and stability is framed by a hexagon – France – and surrounded by the motto of the French Republic: ‘Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité’ (Freedom, Equality, Fraternity).
The edge lettering on the 2 € coin is ‘2**’ repeated six times, alternately upright and inverted. |
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| Designer : J. Jimenez |
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GREECE |
Since 2002
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The 2 € coin depicts a mythological scene from a mosaic in Sparta (3rd century AD), showing the young princess Europa being abducted by Zeus in the shape of a bull.
The edge lettering is ‘ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ *’ (HELLENIC REPUBLIC *). |
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| Designer : G. Stamatopoulos |
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IRELAND |
Since 2002
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The 2 € coin depicts the Celtic harp, a traditional symbol of Ireland first used on coins in 1536, accompanied by the word ‘Éire’, the Irish word for Ireland. The design was the work of Jarlath Hayes and was chosen by the Irish Government.
The edge lettering on the €2 coin is ‘2**’, repeated six times, alternately upright and inverted. |
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| Designer : J. Hayes |
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ITALY |
Since 2002
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The 2 € coin reproduces the portrait drawn by Raphaël of poet Dante Alighieri (1265-1321), author of 'The Divine Comedy'.
The edge lettering is 2** repeated six times, alternately upright and inverted. |
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| Designer : Maria Carmela Colaneri |
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LUXEMBOURG |
Since 2002
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The 2 € coin bears the profile of His Royal Highness the Grand Duke Henri in three different styles: new linear for the 2 euro coins. The word ‘Luxembourg’ is written in Luxembourgish (Lëtzebuerg).
The edge lettering on the 2 € coin is ‘2**’ repeated six times, alternately upright and inverted.
The Luxembourg national faces were designed by Yvette Gastauer-Claire by agreement with the Royal Household and the national government. |
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| Designer : Yvette Gastauer-Claire |
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MALTA |
Since 2008
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| The 2 € coin features the eight-pointed Maltese cross, a symbol of Maltese identity. |
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MONACO |
2001- 2005
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| The 2002, 2 € coin features the effigy of His Highness Prince Rainier III on the 2 € coin, and the effigies of Prince Rainier III. |
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| Designer : Pierre Javaudin |
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Since 2006
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| Following the death of its Head of State, Prince Rainier III, Monaco issued a new series of euro coins in 2006. The portrait of His Highness Prince Albert II features on the 2 € coin. |
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| Designer : Pierre Javaudin |
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NETHERLANDS |
Since 1999
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The 2 € coin bears the profile of Queen Beatrix with the inscription ‘Beatrix Koningin der Nederlanden’ (Beatrix Queen of The Netherlands) in Dutch. It was designed by Bruno Ninaber van Eyben.
The edge lettering on the 2 € coin is GOD * ZIJ * MET * ONS * (God be with us). |
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| Designer : Bruno Ninaber van Eyben |
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PORTUGAL |
Since 2002
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The 2 € coin is inspired by the origins of the history of Portugal, and was designed by Vítor Manuel Fernandes dos Santos. It shows seals of Afonso Henriques, first king of Portugal (1109-1185), encircled by castles and coats of arms: the 1144 seal is on the 2 € coin.
The edge lettering on the 2 € coin consists of five coats of arms and seven castles equally spaced. |
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| Designer : V. M. Fernandes dos Santos |
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SLOVAKIA |
Since 2009
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| The 2 € coin depicts a double cross on three hills (the Tatra, the Mátra and the Fatra) which are part of the Slovak coat of arms and have been a symbol of the Slovak nation since the 16th century. The motif appears against a background of stylized rocks, expressing the stability and strength of the state. It was designed by sculptor Ivan Nehak. |
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| Designer : I. Řehák |
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SLOVENIA |
Since 2007
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The 2 € coin shows the portrait of France Prešeren, Slovenia's greatest poet, together with the line 'Shivé naj vsi naródi' (God’s blessing on all nations) in his handwriting. The words are taken from the seventh verse of his poem Zdravlijca (‘A Toast’), which is also the Slovenian national anthem.
The edge lettering consists of the word SLOVENIJA followed by an engraved dot. |
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| Designer : M. Licul |
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SAN MARINO |
Since 2002
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The 2 € coin features the Palazzo Pubblico or government building of San Marino.
The edge lettering is ‘2*’, repeated six times, alternately upright and inverted. |
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| Designer : Ettore Lorenzo Frapiccini |
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VATICAN |
2002 - 2005
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| The 2 € coins issued between 2002 and 2005 show the effigy of His Holiness Pope John Paul II, who died in April 2005. |
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| Designer : Guido Veroi |
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2005
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| During the interregnum period, before the nomination of his successor, a 2 € coin illustrating the ‘sede vacante’ was issued, showing the coat of arms of the Cardinal Chamberlain, the interim Head of State. |
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| Designer : Daniela Longo |
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Since 2006
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| Since April 2006, Vatican 2 € coins feature the portrait of the new Head of State, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. |
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| Designer : Daniela Longo |
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