Euro Mint Marks

So, let me see if I get this. Europe, as a continent or union, has a set and can be used anywhere? Each sebsequent country has their own issues of euros also and any of these can be used in any country that is part of the union?

I am really getting into world coins from the purchases I made from Kuhli and I am finding them more and more interesting all the time. I bought them for the wife but I think I am more interested than her. They are still hers but I am doing all the work. I don't think of it as work though, it is lots of fun.

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Originally posted by Irishraider

So, let me see if I get this. Europe, as a continent or union, has a set and can be used anywhere? Each sebsequent country has their own issues of euros also and any of these can be used in any country that is part of the union?

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Currently, there are 12 participating nations in the EU (European Union) "euro" program. Each country issues their own "euro-coins", which are legal tender in all participating countries. All coins have a "common side", which is the same throughout the program. The other side or "national side" is up to each country to design. Some countries, such as Ireland, use the same design for all 8 denominations (1,2,5,10,20,50 euro-cents and 1,2 euro), while other countries have chosen to use different designs for each denomination. Beginning in 2007, there will be a few more countries starting to issue "euro-coins", with plans for more expansion over the next few years. Slovenia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Poland, Malta, Hungary, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia are some of these future participants.

The EU is much more than just a monetary authority. There are a few countries that are full members of the EU, but have chosen not to convert to the "euro-coins" at this time. These are United Kingdom and Denmark. The Danish public has repeatedly voted to not convert to the "euro-coins", while the British government has not yet put it to a vote, as it is common public sentiment not to give up their currency system.

Besides the 12 current active participants, through agreements with the EU, there are 3 non-member micro-states who also issue "euro-coins". These include Vatican City (whose currency has been tied directly to the Italian currency for a long time), Monaco (currency tied to the French currency), and San Marino (also tied to the Italian currency). Unfortunately, these states are so small and issue such limited quantites of coins, it is very hard to obtain them. (although San Marino does seem to be issuing more minor coins in the last year or 2).

And then there are the legal status non-member states: Andorra, Montenegro, and Kosovo, who all have agreements with the EU to make the "euro-coins" their official monetary system, but have no provisions in the agreement to mint their own.


To start a collection of "euro-coins", realize that there are 8 denominations to collect, from 12 different countries (not including the micro-states). Bear in mind that German "euro-coins" have 5 different mint marks, giving you a total of 128 coins per year. This is just an estimate, as some countries do not issue all denominations every year. And this is just for the circulating issues. Within the guidelines issued by the EU, each country also has the right to issue "commemorative" coinage, which are legal tender only in the country of issue. France has issued 1¼ euro coins, while several other countries have issued 5 euro and 10 euro commem. coins. (some of these are silver, and available at face value)

It has been reported on television that 50 euro notes are no longer the main target of fraud but one and two euro coins
It has also been reported that in order to fight against fake euro coins little marks would be inserted .
These are probably the secret marks that will get more widespread

I love euro coins and collect unc circulation style coins. There are some 128 coins per year issued and this is ever increasing at new countries are added...slovenia comes on line next year. I have been going 2 years now mostly with swaps and am about 1/2 the way to having them all. Vatican is the really hoigh priced coins.

The next major change to euro coins is a change to the common side in 2008 to reflect the expanding euro zone.

To flash back to the first question related to Mint Marks, all euro coin countries has 1 mint mark per year with 2 exception:
1 - Germany has 5 mint marks (A D F G J) and each year (up today) they minted euro coins w/ all 5 mint marks
2 - Greece only in 2002 minted 2 set of euro coins
- w/ Greece mint mark
- w/ below mint marks
1, 2, 5, 10, 50 cents w/ an F (France) in a star between date
20 cents w/ an E (Spain) in a star between date
1, 2 euro w/ an S (Finland) in a star between date
this is due to an help Greece asked to other countries to mint coins

Right Christian, some euro coins values has been minted only for BU Set and not for standard circulation, but this is another story different from mint marks, and it is also true for other countries like French or small countries.
About this subject may be useful this site
http://www.euro-auflagen.de/index.php?lang=en

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Originally posted by Brissyboy

Of the circulation euro coins, each country can only mint one commemorative coin per year. Many countries use the 2 Euros as the circulating commemorative coin but I think Italy uses the 50 cent coin.

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Basically each euro country can issue one €2 commem per year. The €2 piece is the only denomination that can be used for such coins (in IT too). There are some "special cases" though: If Euroland issues a common €2 commem (ie. one from each country) like next year, each country may still issue another commemorative piece in that year. Also, if the mintage of one issue is very high, as in the case of Greece 2004, the issuing country has to "pause" for a while.

Christian

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Originally posted by Brissyboy
What other Mints (mintmarks) appear on coins for countries without their own Mint and do they employ different Mints in different years?

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Luxembourg for example had its 2002, 2003 and 2004 circulation and commemorative coins made in Utrecht/NL, so you see the "Mercury staff" mintmark and the mintmaster's signs (bow/arrow, sails) on those coins. In 2005 and 2006 these coins were made in Vantaa/FI and have the logo of the Finnish Mint. (Luxembourg's collector coins are also minted in Warsaw/PL, Stuttgart/DE, Vienna/AT, all without any mintmarks.)

Greece has already been mentioned; then there is Slovenia where the new circulation coins (legal tender as from 1-Jan) have an "FI" for Finland since they were also minted in Vantaa. The three non-EU euro countries (Monaco, San Marino, Vatican) use the same mint and mintmaster signs as the corresponding French and Italian issues.

Christian