collecting - Framework for issue of euro commemorative coins

http://www.eurotracer.net/news/shownews.php?nid=84

Commission adopts framework for commemorative euro coins
Brussels, 2003-09-30 (European Commission, IP/03/1316)

The Commission adopted today a Recommendation governing the issuance of
commemorative euro coins intended for circulation and the
"standard" national sides of euro coins. The Commission recommends
that the current moratorium on the issuance of commemorative euro
circulation coins be lifted as of 2004. Euro-area countries should be
able, as of next year, to use the national side of their 2-euro coin
to commemorate special events or personalities of European-wide or
global importance. On the other hand, the Commission recommends that
the "standard" national sides of euro coins remain unchanged until the
end of 2008.

Euro coins have a "European" side, common in all euro area member
states, and a distinctive "national" side. The designs on the national
sides of the euro coins were decided by each member state and minted
on the basis of common technical specifications laid down in a Council
Regulation. The 12 Member States of the euro area have together
brought 96 different euro coins into circulation. Almost two years of
experience with the euro coins show that these have become widely
accepted by the European public. Their diversity is a source of
interest to all European citizens.

Commemorative coins have a long tradition in euro area member states.
However, the Council agreed in November 1998 on a moratorium on
commemorative issue coins in the early years of euro coin circulation.
The purpose was to allow in the early years citizens to familiarise
themselves with the new coins and avoid the risk of creating
uncertainty among the public.

In the Recommendation adopted today, based on discussions with Member
States, the Commission recommends that this moratorium be lifted as of
2004. It also recommends that commemorative euro coins should be minted
on the basis a commonly agreed framework. The main rules a

* the 2-euro coin should be the sole denomination used for such
issues;
* the number of issues should be limited to one per issuing State
per year;
* the total number of coins put into circulation for each
individual issue will be subject to ceilings included in this
Recommendation and have the same technical characteristics as normal
2-euro coins;
* Member States should inform the Commission before the coins are
issued so that it can publish all relevant information in the Official
Journal in order to make it available to all parties concerned.

The Commission considers that the 2-euro denomination is best suited
for commemorative issues. It is a visually attractive coin and its
large diameter makes it very apt for the representation of designs.
Furthermore it is very advanced bi-metallic technology and further
technical characteristics make it very difficult to reproduce by
counterfeiters. Occasions for the issuance of these commemorative
coins could be political events that represent milestones in European
integration or extraordinary sports events like the Olympic Games. In
line with past customs, in some countries such coin issues have been
used to commemorate personalities whose life's work is of marked
importance. The 2-euro commemorative coins will have legal tender
status throughout the euro area.

As far as the national side of the euro coins is concerned, the
Commission recommends that Member States do not change the standard
design before the end of 2008. The issue will be reviewed before that
deadline in the light of experience. An exemption from this rule is
provided in case of change in the Head of State depicted on some euro
coins. This recommendation does not concern the European side of euro
coins.

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--
Arwel Parry
http://www.cartref.demon.co.uk/