Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 2 Euro 2007, KM# 772, Portugal, Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Portugal
  • 2 Euro 2007, KM# 772, Portugal, Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Portugal
Description

The Presidency of the Council of the European Union is responsible for the functioning of the Council of the European Union, the upper house of the EU legislature. It rotates among the member states of the EU every six months. The presidency is not an individual, but rather the position is held by a national government. It is sometimes incorrectly referred to as the President of the European Union. The presidency's function is to chair meetings of the Council, determine its agendas, set a work programme and facilitate dialogue both at Council meetings and with other EU institutions.

The Portuguese Presidency of the Council took place during the second half of 2007, taking over from Germany and passing it to Slovenia.

Obverse

The inner part shows a cork oak (Quercus suber) taking up most of the coin's design; under the branches, on the left hand side, is the coat of arms of Portugal and on the right hand side the word PORTUGAL written over three lines. The inscription 2007 Presidency of the Council of the EU is written in a semicircle along the bottom of the inner part, with the artist's signature on the right and the mint mark near the coat of arms. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin.
 
Engraver: I. Vilar

POR
TV
GAL
2007 INCM PRESIDÊNCIA DO CONSELHO DA U.E.

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 edge design features the seven castles and five coats of arms also found on the national side, all equally spaced

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
Portuguese Mint and Official Printing Office (INCM)

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