Beneath the portrait of HSH Prince Rainier III, the portrait of HSH Hereditary Prince Albert is encircled by the country name and the twelve stars of Europe. Date below divides mint and mint master's marks.

Rainier III (1923–2005) ruled the Principality of Monaco for almost 56 years, making him one of the longest ruling monarchs in European history. Though internationally known for his marriage to the American actress Grace Kelly, he was also responsible for reforms to Monaco's constitution and for expanding the principality's economy beyond its traditional casino gambling base. Gambling accounts for only approximately three percent of the nation's annual revenue today; when Rainier ascended the throne in 1949, it accounted for more than 95 percent.

Albert II (born 14 March 1958) is the reigning monarch of the Principality of Monaco and head of the Princely House of Grimaldi. He is the son of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco and the American actress Grace Kelly.

• Mintmark of the Paris Mint (Monnaie de Paris in Pessac): Cornucopia (horn of plenty)
• Mint master's marks:
– 2001–2002: Horseshoe (Gérard Buquoy)
– 2003: Heart with the initials of the mint master (Serge Levet)
– 2004–2010: Hunting horn with a wave and a fish (Hubert Larivière)
• Engraver: Henri Thiebaud

A geographical map of Western Europe spans the outer ring and inner core on the right side of the coin. The inscription 1 EURO is superimposed over the map of Europe, with the numeral “1” 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.”