In 1996, before the first Euro coin was minted in 1999 a ticklish situation had to be dealt with; the how and why of the coin being able to circulate among so many nations. That conundrum was solved with the decision that the obverse side of the coin would bear a common design, otherwise known as the Common Side or National Side. The reverse would bear a theme and design by the issuing country. This is Part One of eleven articles dealing with the Euro's changes. The 1 Euro Cent, 2 Euro Cent and 5 Euro Cent (cent is singular or plural, but in English you can add the "s" for coins of 2 Cent or more) were given their own Common Side design. The 10 Euro Cent, 20 Euro Cent and 50 Euro Cent received their own Common Side design. The 1 and 2 Euro coins received a third design. To see all those first National Side or Common Side coins click on the following link and scroll down to each coin set (Fleur-de-coin web site): http://www.fleur-de-coin.com/eurocoins/coins.asp As the European Union's membership grew, some changes to the Common Side were inevitable.. With the help of Don's World Coin Gallery, I will present you with photos of Euro Coins bearing the Common Side changes along with coins from each Euro Union member's own designs. So as to not show any preference, the Euro membership nations are listed in alphabetical order: Austria: Original Common Side Euro Coins: http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img6/11-1c02&desc=Austriakm30821Eurocent(1999--)&query=Austria http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img6/11-2c02&desc=Austriakm30832Eurocents(1999--)&query=Austria http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img6/11-5c02&desc=Austriakm30845Eurocents(1999--)&query=Austria http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img6/11-10c02&desc=Austriakm308510Eurocents(1999-2007)&query=Austria http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img6/11-20c02&desc=Austriakm308620Eurocents(1999-2007)&query=Austria http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img6/11-50c02&desc=Austriakm308750Eurocents(1999-2007)&query=Austria http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img6/11-1e02&desc=Austriakm30881Euro(1999-2007)&query=Austria http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img6/11-2e02&desc=Austriakm30892Euro(1999-2008)&query=Austria 2 Euro 2005 (State Treaty): http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img12/11-2e05&desc=Austriakm31242Euro(2005)StateTreaty&query=Austria 2 Euro 2008): http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=nmc7/11-3143&desc=Austriakm31432Euro(2008--)ReliefmapofEurope&query=Austria One rule on Euro circulation coins was that the nation's or country's side (reverse) could only be changed after five years with two exceptions: 1. If the design featured the leader and the leader died or otherwise was replaced with a new leader. 2. Euro commemoratives could be changed as desired, but not being a business strike coins commemoratives are legal tender only in the issuing country. Changes in Austria's Circulation Euro Coins: http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img17/11-3139&desc=Austriakm313910Eurocents(2007--)ReliefmapofEurope&query=Austria http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img17/11-3140&desc=Austriakm314020Eurocents(2008--)ReliefmapofEurope&query=Austria Belgium: Original Common Side: http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img7/18-1c02&desc=Belgiumkm2241EuroCent(1999-2007)&query=Belgium http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img7/18-2c02&desc=Belgiumkm2252EuroCents(1999-2007)&query=Belgium http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img7/18-5c02&desc=Belgiumkm2265EuroCents(1999-2007)&query=Belgium http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img7/18-10c02&desc=Belgiumkm22710EuroCents(1999-2006)&query=Belgium http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img7/18-20c02&desc=Belgiumkm22820EuroCents(1999-2006)&query=Belgium http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img7/18-50c02&desc=Belgiumkm22950EuroCents(1999-2006)&query=Belgium http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img7/18-1e02&desc=Belgiumkm2301Euro(1999-2006)&query=Belgium http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img7/18-2e02&desc=Belgiumkm2312Euro(1999-2006)&query=Belgium Changes: http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img17/18-274&desc=Belgiumkm2741EuroCent(2008--)&query=Belgium http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img17/18-275&desc=Belgiumkm2752EuroCents(2008--)&query=Belgium http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img17/18-275&desc=Belgiumkm2752EuroCents(2008--)&query=Belgium http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img17/18-276&desc=Belgiumkm2765EuroCents(2008--)&query=Belgium http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=nmc7/18-242&desc=Belgiumkm24210EuroCents(2007)ReliefMapofEurope&query=Belgium http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=nmc5/18-242&desc=Belgiumkm27710EuroCents(2008--)ReliefMapofEurope&query=Belgium http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=nmc7/18-243&desc=Belgiumkm24320EuroCents(2007)ReliefmapofEurope&query=Belgium http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img16/18-243&desc=Belgiumkm27820EuroCents(2008--)ReliefmapofEurope&query=Belgium http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=nmc7/18-244&desc=Belgiumkm24450EuroCents(2007)ReliefmapofEurope&query=Belgium http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img16/18-244&desc=Belgiumkm27950EuroCents(2008--)ReliefmapofEurope&query=Belgium http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=nmc7/18-245&desc=Belgiumkm2451Euro(2007)ReliefMapofEurope&query=Belgium http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img17/18-280&desc=Belgiumkm2801Euro(2008--)ReliefMapofEurope&query=Belgium Cyprus: Original Common Side: First Euro Coins issued in 2008. http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img16/50-78&desc=Cypruskm781EuroCent(2008)&query=Cyprus http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img16/50-79&desc=Cypruskm792EuroCents(2008)&query=Cyprus http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img16/50-80&desc=Cypruskm805EuroCents(2008)&query=Cyprus http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img16/50-81&desc=Cypruskm8110EuroCents(2008)&query=Cyprus http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img16/50-82&desc=Cypruskm8220EuroCents(2008)&query=Cyprus http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img16/50-83&desc=Cypruskm8350EuroCents(2008)&query=Cyprus http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img16/50-84&desc=Cypruskm841Euro(2008)&query=Cyprus http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img16/50-85&desc=Cypruskm852Euro(2008)&query=Cyprus Estonia: Became Euro Zone member 2011. Original Euro Issues: http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img17/64-1c11&desc=Estonianew1EuroCent(2011--)&query=Estonia http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img17/64-2c11&desc=Estonianew2EuroCents(2011--)&query=Estonia http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img17/64-5c11&desc=Estonianew5EuroCents(2011--)&query=Estonia http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img17/64-10c11&desc=Estonianew10EuroCents(2011--)&query=Estonia http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img17/64-20c11&desc=Estonianew20EuroCents(2011--)&query=Estonia http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img17/64-50c11&desc=Estonianew50EuroCents(2011--)&query=Estonia http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img17/64-1e11a&desc=Estonianew1Euro(2011--)&query=Estonia http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img17/64-2e11a&desc=Estonianew2Euro(2011--)&query=Estonia Finland: Original Designs: http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img5/68-1c02&desc=Finlandkm981Eurocent(1999--)&query=Finland http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img5/68-2c02&desc=Finlandkm992Eurocents(1999--)&query=Finland http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img5/68-5c02&desc=Finlandkm1005Eurocents(1999--)&query=Finland http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img5/68-10c02&desc=Finlandkm10110Eurocents(1999-2006)&query=Finland http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img5/68-20c02&desc=Finlandkm10220Eurocents(1999-2006)&query=Finland http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img5/68-50c02&desc=Finlandkm10350Eurocents(1999-2006)&query=Finland http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img5/68-1e02&desc=Finlandkm1041Euro(1999-2006)&query=Finland http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img5/68-2e02&desc=Finlandkm1052Euro(1999-2006)&query=Finland France: http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img7/69-1c02&desc=Francekm12821EuroCent(1999--)&query=France http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img7/69-2c02&desc=Francekm12832EuroCents(1999--)&query=France http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img7/69-5c02&desc=Francekm12845EuroCents(1999--)&query=France http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img7/69-10c02&desc=Francekm128510EuroCents(1999-2006)&query=France http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img7/69-20c02&desc=Francekm128620EuroCents(1999-2006)&query=France http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img7/69-50c02&desc=Francekm128750EuroCents(1999-2006)&query=France http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img7/69-1e02&desc=Francekm12881Euro(1999-2006)&query=France http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img7/69-2e02&desc=Francekm12892Euro(1999-2006)&query=France Changes: 2007 10 Euro Cent: http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img17/69-1410&desc=Francekm141010Eurocents(2007--)ReliefmapofEurope&query=France 2007 20 Euro Cent: http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=nmc7/69-1411&desc=Francekm141120Eurocents(2007--)ReliefmapofEurope&query=France The Euro is also the currency of another 5 European countries (Montenegro, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican) and the disputed territory of Kosovo. Remember this article is only Part One multi-installments. Look for Part Two. Clinker
Told you that I would reply, Clinker. Interesting posts - not because these are pieces I rarely see but because these coins I use every day. By the way, the first euro coins were minted in mid-1998; it's just that some countries decided to use "1999" as the first year on their coins (as the euro was "born" on 1 January 1999) while others used "2002" (as 1-Jan-2002 was when the euro coins became legal tender). Also, the smaller denominations are actually called "cent", not "euro cent". That is why on the cent coins the word "euro" is much smaller than the word "cent". But I guess that, if you live in a country that uses cent coins, you want to differentiate ... Commemorative euro coins (€2 pieces with a special obverse design) are legal tender throughout the currency union, just like the circulation coins. The pieces that are legal tender in the issuing member state only are officially called "collector coins", see http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/euro/cash/coins/pdf/types_coins_en.pdf But as that is at least partly different from "traditional" terminology, quite a few here, even governments, sometimes mix the terms up. Of these six, only three (Monaco, San Marino, Vatican) have monetary agreements with the European Union that allow them to issue euro coins. Andorra made such an agreement earlier this year, and will start issuing euro coins in 2013. Christian
