Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 2 Euro 2012, KM# 350, Italy, 10th Anniversary of Euro Coins and Banknotes
  • 2 Euro 2012, KM# 350, Italy, 10th Anniversary of Euro Coins and Banknotes
Description

On 1 January 2002, euro banknotes and coins were introduced in 12 Member States of the European Union. The introduction of the euro cash was an unprecedented challenge, but it went smoothly, and billions of banknotes and coins started to circulate in a matter of days. Five more Member States adopted the euro in later years, so a total of 17 Member States – and 332 million people – use the currency as of 2011. It has become a symbol of Europe, and the banknotes and coins have become a part of European citizens daily lives.

The euro area countries are issuing a commemorative €2 coin with a single national design for the third time in 2012. The design was chosen in a competition held by the European Commission. A total of 800 designs were submitted, five of which were chosen by an expert panel and were published online for a public vote. A total of 35,000 votes were received from residents of the euro area, and the winning design with 34% of the votes was by Helmut Andexlinger, a designer at the Austrian Mint.

Obverse

Depicts the euro symbol in the centre symbolizes one common monetary system. The elements around the euro sign express the importance of the euro to the people, to the financial world (ECB tower), to trading (ships), to industry (factories), to the energy sector and research and development (wind power stations and factories).

The artist's initials AH (Helmut Andexlinger) appear below the image of the ECB tower. The name of the issuing country appears at the top, the mintmark R (Rome) below, while the years 2002–2012 appear at the bottom. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin.

REPUBBLICA ITALIANA
R
A.H.

2002 2012

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 ★

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Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (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
Italian State Mint and Polygraphic Institute (IPZS)

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