How Do You Collect Your Euros?

I'm trying to get 1 of every circulating denomination up to 50 cents, date and country.

I started on 1 and 2 euros as well but that works out as too expensive.

I save all euro circulating coins by date (and mintmark in the case of German ones) - nearly all were from change but I have bought a few including Finnish 1c and 2c, a Vatican City 50c and various San Marino coins. I don't have anything like a complete set but find it great fun checking change when in the Eurozone - I visit France very frequently. I have some of the silver 2011 and 2012 French 10-euro regional coins (obtained at face value from Post Offices) and one Spanish silver 12-euro from a Spanish collector who regularly sends me Spanish coins in exchange for UK ones. There's a machine in the Post Office at Calais that gives 2-euro coins in exchange for banknotes, and I find that a good source of commemorative 2-euro coins! I have not got any Andorra or Latvia euro coins yet. I have two Monaco coins - 1 and 2 euros - that a friend got in change in Monte Carlo in 2002 and sold me at face value!

I must admit that, whatever the merits of the single currency and the designs of the coins themselves, the introduction of the euro gave a huge boost to my coin collection that has never stopped since. My interest in coins had been waning somewhat, and it was really exciting in 2002 to be able to go to France and add 60 or 70 different coins to my collection in just a few days!

My aim, as far as euro coins are concerned, is a complete collection of circulation and commemorative (€2) coins. Some I can get from circulation here, others I buy. Don't care about years or mintmarks, but once there is a new or modified design, I would like to have it.

Collector coins, well, from time to time I will purchase one - if I find the theme and/or design attractive. But as those pieces are legal tender in the issuing member state only (while the "real" euro coins can of course be used throughout the currency union), I do not find them to be that relevant for me.

Christian

I have no idea ...
http://www.reppa.de/10495-2_Euro_BR...likation.htm
... what you are ...
http://www.muenzen-outlet.biz/Eurom...ro-coloriert
... talking about. ;)

And no, I do not like such pieces either. Besides, at least here in Germany the central bank (Bundesbank) may refuse to accept them. But if there are collectors who like such pieces (and are aware of the fact that they are third party colored), why not ...

Christian

Whether there are "talking coins" depends on your definition. :) But yes, that Mongolian JFK piece works like one of those greeting cards that have a sound chip. See here: http://www.coin-invest.li/Coins.asp...word=kennedy ... and click on the "coin" to learn more about it.

Christian

I collect one of every coin, though not using date as a separate coin. So I guess there are 2 or 3 versions for the original 12 countries. I don't do the non-circulating.
I put all the commemoratives together and each country is orders by, first, their country's name in their own language (with Greece last) for the original 12 then in order of when they joined after that, saying that I have one Estonian coin, a few from Malta, and none from Latvia. I've been away for a looooooong time.

I only pick up coins from circulation and there's no real pattern to it. I just hold onto any designs I've not seen before.

Oddly I got a Latvian 2014 50c last week when in Barcelona. My first 2014 coin of any country - including the UK!

Andorra and the Vatican will be tough. ;) The Vatican usually issues one denomination or two only for circulation; the others can only be had by buying the sets. And the Andorran coins ... will come some day. We know the designs, but none have been issued so far - neither "loose" nor in sets.

Christian