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How to Identify Euro Coins

Euro coins and notes were introduced on January 1, 2002, replacing the individual currencies of twelve countries in the European Union (the E.U.). As of 2010, the "eurozone" has swelled to include Greece, Slovenia, Cyprus and Slovakia, with Estonia slated to join in 2011. The coin series comprises eight denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent, and 1 and 2 euros. Made from cupro-nickel and nickel-brass and partially designed by Luc Luycx of the Royal Belgian Mint, each coin has a shared motif on one side; on the other side is a different design representing each issuing country.

Instructions

- 1
  To identify a euro coin, look at both sides of the coin. One side should clearly bear the words "Euro" or "Euro Cent." In addition, in all cases, with the exception of the 1, 2 and 5 cent coins, there will be a motif of the European coastline. (This motif was introduced on January 1, 2007. Until then, coins carried a design of the European Union before its expansion in 2004.) The lowest denomination coins show Europe's position on a globe of the Earth.
- 2
  Check the same side for the denomination mark, comparing that to the overall design of the coin. The 2 euro coin is bimetallic, with an outer ring of cupro-nickel (silver) and a center of nickel-brass (gold.) The 1 euro coin is the other way around. The 50 and 20 cent coins are made from what the European Central Bank calls "Nordic gold" (not real gold but a copper-aluminum alloy.) The 1, 2 and 5 cent coins are made from copper.
- 3
  Examine the other side of the coin. This is the "national" side of the euro, and there is no doubt that the chosen designs evoke very different cultures. Irish euros are easy to recognize because they bear a harp and the word "Eire." The Greek 2 euro reproduces a scene from a classical mosaic, while the 1 euro depicts an owl from an ancient drachma (a Greek coin). German euro coins bear an eagle and the Brandenburg Gate. Other coins portray various dignitaries. For more specific information, visit the website of the European Central Bank.

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