Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 2 Euro 2019, KM# 562, Andorra, 600th Anniversary of the Consell de la Terra
  • 2 Euro 2019, KM# 562, Andorra, 600th Anniversary of the Consell de la Terra
Description

The first parliament in Andorra was established in 1419, as the Consell de la Terra. Councillors were elected by the population, and the council appointed syndics to manage the administration of the principality. It remained in force for several hundred years, slowly becoming the fiefdom of a few major families; this caused popular discontent by the nineteenth century, and major reforms were instituted in 1866. The Consell de la Terra was abolished, and replaced by the Consell General de las Valls, with a syndic and vice-syndic.

In the 1930s, matters again began to boil over; one point of particular contention was that the Council had begun regularly referring to Andorra as a republic, which understandably caused some contention with the co-princes. The General Council was dissolved on their order in June 1933, and a special election called to re-elect it. The opportunity was taken to change the voting laws; at this point, all men over twenty-five could vote, and all men over thirty stand for election.

In 1970, the vote was extended to women over twenty-five; in 1971 the qualifying age for all electors was lowered to twenty-one, and that of candidates to twenty-five. Women gained the right to run for office in 1973.

Obverse

Depicts the Andorran coat of arms in the centre, some people discussing on both sides. Inscription "600th Anniversary of the Consell de la Terra" above. The state name is depicted on a fan-shaped flag cloth. The dates 1419 and 2019 are below and inside of the first 0 of 600. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin.

The coat of arms of Andorra is the heraldic device consisting of a shield divided quarterly by the arms of the Bishop of Urgell (top left) and the Count of Foix (top right) – who have historically been the two co-princes of Andorra – in addition to the emblems of Catalonia (bottom left) and the Viscount of Béarn (bottom right). At the bottom is the country's motto – Strength united is stronger (Latin: Virtus unita fortior).

600 ANYS DEL CONSELL DE LA TERRA
VIRTUS UNITA FORTIOR
ANDORRA
6(1419 2019)0

Reverse

A geographical map of Western Europe spans the outer ring and inner core on the right side of the coin. The inscription 2 EURO is superimposed over the map of Europe, with the numeral “2” located in an open field representing the eastern Atlantic Ocean.

12 stars are located on the right side of the outer ring, with six stars atop the map of Europe and six stars below it; six vertical stripes cut across the inner core of the coin, visually connecting the upper and lower star segments.

Luc Luycx, a designer at the Royal Belgian Mint, designed the Euro’s common reverse; his initials, LL, are seen on the right side of the design, just under the “O” in “EURO.”

2 EURO
LL

Edge

The sequence "2 ★ ★" repeated six times alternately upright and inverted.

2 ★ ★ 2 ★ ★ 2 ★ ★ 2 ★ ★ 2 ★ ★ 2 ★ ★

2 Euro

600th Anniversary of the Consell de la Terra

KM# 562
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Bi-Metallic
Ring Cupronickel
Center Nickel Brass
Weight 8.5 g
Diameter 25.75 mm
Thickness 2.2 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Paris Mint (A)

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