Euro Information Appreciated

Check the official European Central Bank site for most of what you need to know about euro coins and notes. Some of the information there is a bit out of date. Wikipedia is more up-to-date, with the usual Wiki caveat.

For recent news, here's a summary:

Starting this year, new Euro coins will have a new "common obverse" design, redesigned to take into account the expansion of the Eurozone. The new designs are now "borderless", so they won't have to keep redesigning it as the Eurozone continues to expand in the future.

Slovenia is the first "new country" to begin issuing Euros since 2002.

Beginning in 2004, circulating commemorative 2 euro coins were issued by several countries. The Greek 2004 Olympics coins were the first.

Rarities: I don't think there's much that could be classed as "rare", except on ebay. In mainland Europe, coins from the geographically isolated areas, like Ireland, Finland and Greece, can be harder to find. Finland particularly since they've effectively stopped issuing 1¢ and 2¢ coins. Coins of the three mini-states (Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City) would be a terrific find, but that's not likely to happen anytime soon - so far they've only been issued in sets, not for general circulation.

Membership of the European Union doesn't automatically entitle a country to start issuing euros - there's a long and painful process they have to go through first. Slovenia is the only "new country" to be accepted this year; I think the next scheduled entrant is Malta in 2008.

Gary,
to start to classify euro you can use these rules:

- 8 + 1 standard circulation coins
1ct. 2ct. 5ct. 10ct. 20ct. 50ct. 1euro, 2 euro, + 2 euro Commemorative (CC)

- several Commemorative coins and BU Set,
mailny in Silver and Gold but also other metals

- 16 Countries
. Austria, Italy, Ireland, Luxemburg, Portugal
8 coins starting in 2002,
only 1 mint mark,
in the last years also a 2 euro CC for all except Ireland and Portugal.
. Germany
8 coins starting in 2002,
5 mint marks A - D - F - G - J,
in the last years also a 2 euro CC.
. Greece
8 coins starting in 2002,
2 types of mint marks in 2002,
. one type w/ Greece mint
. second type w/ a small letter in the star between date
S for 1 and 2 euro
F for 1ct, 2ct, 5 ct, 10ct, 50ct
E for 20 ct.
only 1 (Greece mint) from 2003
in the last years also a 2 euro CC.
. Belgium, Finland, France, Netherland, Spain
8 coins starting in 1999,
only 1 mint,
in the last years also a 2 euro CC, except for France and Netherland
. Slovenia
8 coins starting in 2007,
only 1 mint,
a 2 euro CC is planned in 2007 too
. Monaco
8 coins starting in 2001, but several coins available only in BU Sets
only 1 mint,
no 2 euro CC,
in 2005 only a BU set w/ 1ct, 2ct, 5ct.
. SanMarino
8 coins starting in 2002, but several coins available only in BU Sets
only 1 mint.
. Vatican
8 coins starting in 2002, from 2004 coins available only in BU Sets
only 1 mint,
in the last years also a 2 euro CC
in 2005 2 BU set, Giovanni Paolo II and Sede Vacante

I tryied to be shortly but it is hard due to several changements, just a last note: also some big countries released some value only in BU set, France and Germany are a couple of examples, and incredible but true, I have to correct Sap, because it is not true Finland stopped to mint 1ct. and 2ct. they are continuing, up to 2006 to mint and release cents outside BU set, I have rolls.

I forgot to add this link site
http://www.euro-auflagen.de/index.php?lang=en
very useful for euro mintage ...

Since 2005 Luxembourg has their coins being minted in Finland, until 2004 it was in the Netherlands. The coins minted in finland have an S as Mintmark.
Not all countries will introduce the common obverse in 2007. The design f the 1 - 5 cent coins will remain unchanged.