Also after the ninth year of the changeover to the euro the member states of the euro zone will issue further 2-euro commemorative circulation coins. These coins typically commemorate the anniversaries of historical events or draw attention to current events of special importance of the member states.
Belgium
Subject of commemoration: 100th anniversary of International Woman´s day
Description: The observe of the coin displays the effigy of Isala Van Diest, the first Belgian woman doctor, and Marie Popelin, the first Belgian woman lawyer. The names are written under the effigies and around the year `2011´, and are crowned with the symbol of the corresponding profession. Above the effigies, to the left and right respectively of the indication of the issuing country, `BE´, the mark of the mint master and the mint mark are shown. The coin´s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.
Volume of issuance: 5 million coins
Date of issue: March 2011
Finland
Subject of commemoration: The 200th anniversary of the Bank of Finland
Description: The centre of the coin shows the Finnish national bird, whooper swan. The swan´s wind separates the years `1811´ (bottom right) and `2011´ (centre left). The letter `V´in the left armpit of the swan stands for the surname of the designer, Hannu Veijalainen. At the bottom of the inner ring, the indication of the issuing country `FI´and the mintmark appear. The coin´s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.
Volume of issuance: 1,5 million coins
Date of issue: October 2011
France
Subject of commemoration: 30th anniversary of the Day of Music
Description: The inner part of the coin depicts a cheerful crowd, with a stylised image of a musical instrument and notes floating in the air, denoting the atmosphere of celebration on the Day of Music, which has been celebrated in France every summer solstice since 1981. The words `Fête de la MUSIQUE´ and the date `21 JUIN 2011´ appear at the centre of the drawing. On top, slanting rightwards, are the words `30e ANNIVERSAIRE´, and the country indication `RF´ appears at the bottom. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.
Volume of issuance: 10 million coins
Date of issue: June 2011
Germany
Subject of commemoration: Nordrhein-Westfalen
Description: The design shows the Köln cathedral in its entirety, as a masterpiece of the Gothic architecture, emphasizing the beauty of the south portal. The name NORDRHEIN-WESTFALEN, just below the building, links the pictured building with the state. The mint marks, represented by the letter A, D, F, G or J, is located in the right upper core region, the initials of the artist, Heinz Hoyer, in the right central core area. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European Union flag. Between the stars, at the bottom, the year `2011´ and at the top the indication of the issuing country reference `D´.
Volume of issuance: 30 million coins
Date of issue: January 2011
Greece
Subject of commemoration: The organisation of Special Olympics World Games – Athens 2011
Description: The centre of the coin shows the emblem of the Games, a radiant sun, the source of life that underlines the excellence and power of the athlete that takes part in the Games. Excellence is depicted in the olive branch and power in the spiral form in the centre of the sun. Around the image is written the sign `XIII Special Olympics W.S.G. Athens 2011´ as well as the issuing country `Ελληνικη Δημοκρατια´. The mintmark is also depicted in between. The coin´s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.
Volume of issuance: 1 million coins
Date of issue: End of the second trimester 2011
Italy
Subject of commemoration: The 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy
Description: The inner part of the coin shows, at the centre, three Italian flags in the wind, representing the three past 50th anniversaries – 1911, 1961 and 2011 – which illustrate a perfect link between generations: this is the logo of the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy. At the top, the inscription `150° DELL’UNITA’ D’ITALIA´ (150th anniversary of the unification of Italy); at the right, the initials of the issuing country `RI´ (Republic of Italy); at the bottom, the dates `1861 › 2011 › ›’; under the dates, at the center, the mintmark `R´ and at the right, the initials of the artist Ettore Lorenzo Frapiccini and the first three letters of the Italian name of his profession (incisore) `ELF INC.´. The coin´s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.
Volume of issuance: 10 million coins
Date of issue: March 2011
Luxembourg
Subject of commemoration: The 50th anniversary of the appointment by the Grand-Duchess Charlotte of her son Jean as `lieutenant-représentant´
Description: The coin depicts on the right hand of its inner part the effigy of His Royal Highness, the Grand-Duke Henri, looking left, and superimposed on the effigies of the Grand-Duke Jean and the Grand-Duchess Charlotte. The text `LËTZEBUERG´ is depicted above the three effigies. The year-date `2011´, flanked by the mintmark and the Mintmaster mark, appears above. The name of the Royal Highness is depicted below the effigy. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.
Volume of issuance: 1,4 million coins
Date of issue: January 2011
Malta
Subject of commemoration: First elected representatives
Description: The center of the coin shows a hand putting a vote into a ballot box. At the bottom, the year `2011´. At the top, extending to the right along inner ring, the words `Malta – First elected representatives 1849´. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.
Volume of issuance: 430.000 coins
Date of issue: Second half of 2011
Monaco
Subject of commemoration: The wedding of Prince Albert und Charlene
Description: The inner part of the coin shows, at the centre, the effigies of Prince Albert and Charlene. At the bottom, the name of the issuing country `MONACO´ and the year of issuance `2011´. The mint mark and the mint engravers mark appear before and after `MONACO 2011´, respectively. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.
Volume of issuance: 148.000 coins
Date of issue: 2 July 2011
The Netherlands
Subject of commemoration: The 500th anniversary of the issue of the world famous book `Laus Stultitiae´ by the Dutch philosopher, humanist and theologian Desiderus Erasmus
Description: The inner part of the coin depicts Erasmus writing his book and the effigy of Queen Beatrix. Between these two images, the inscription `Beatrix Koningin der Nederlanden´ vertically positioned, the year `2011´, the Mint master mark and the mintmark. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European Union flag.
Volume of issuance: 4 million coins
Date of issue: January 2011
Portugal
Subject of commemoration: The 500th anniversary of the birth of Fernão Mendes Pinto, the Portuguese explorer of the Asian seas and countries
Description: The inner part of the coin depicts a sailing ship on several wave-shaped inscriptions referring to Portugal, Lisbon, his book and some of his travel destinations. The inscription `Portugal´ appears underneath. His name combined with the years 1511 and 2011 appear on top of the inner part. The coin´s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.
Volume of issuance: 520.000 coins
Date of issue: September 2011
San Marino
Subject of commemoration: The 500th anniversary of the birth of the Italian painter Giorgio Vasari (30 July 1511 – 27 June 1574). Vasari was also a writer, historian and architect, famous for his biographies of Italian artists, and he is now considered the ideological founder of art-historical writing.
Description: The inner part of the coin shows a detail from the painting `Judith and Holofernes´ by Giorgio Vasari. At the bottom are the dates `1511-2011´, with `G. Vasari´ and the mintmark `R´ on the left. On the right are the inscriptions `San Marino´ and `C.M.´, the initials of the mint maker Claudia Momoni. The coin´s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.
Volume of issuance: 130 000 coins
Date of issue: June 2011
Slovakia
Subject of commemoration: The 20th anniversary of the formation of the Visegrad Group
Description: The inner part of the coin depicts a map of the four countries that comprise the Visegrad Group: the Republic of Poland, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, and the Republic of Hungary. The map is supplemented by a stylized abbrevation `V IV´. The name of the issuing country, `SLOVENSKO´, is located in the lower right part and the year `2011´ is in the lower left part of the coin field. The design is surrounded by the legend `VYŠEHRADSKÁ SKUPINA • VISEGRAD GROUP´ and the date of the Visegrad Group foundation `15.2.1991´. The initials of the author of the coin’s design, Miroslav Rónai `MR´, and the mark of the Kremnica Mint, `MK´, appear under the name of the country. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European Union flag.
Volume of issuance: 1 million coins
Date of issue: January 2011
Slovenia
Subject of commemoration: The 100th anniversary of the birth of the national hero Franc Rozman-Stane
Description: The design shows on the left side the image of Franc Rozman-Stane with five-armed star in his lower part. The legend `SLOVENIJA´ separates upper and lower part of the right side of the coin. Under the legend the year `2011´ is written vertically. On the upper side, vertically one under the other are legends `FRANC´, `ROZMAN´, `STANE´ and horizontally the years `1911´ and `1944´. The coin´s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European Union flag.
Volume of issuance: 1 million coins
Date of issue: March 2011
Spain
Subject of commemoration: UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage Sites – Patio de los Leones of the Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzín in Granada.
Description: The design shows an image of the Patio de los Leones in the Alhambra in Granada. At the bottom the name of the issuing country `ESPAÑA´ and the year-date `2011´ and at the top, the mintmark. The coin´s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.
Volume of issuance: 8 million coins
Date of issue: March 2011
Vatican City State
Subject of commemoration: The 26th World Youth Day
Description: The inner part of the coin shows, at the centre, some young people and flags, and also the mintmark `R´ and the year `2011´. At the top, along the outer limit of the inner ring, from left to the right, `XXVI´ and `G.M.G.´ from Giornata Mondiale della Gioventù (World Youth Day). At the bottom, the name of the issuing country `CITTÀ DEL VATICANO´. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.
Volume of issuance: 115.000 coins
Date of issue: October 2011
