Where are the Euros?

Hi, I am not an Euro collector but I thought this might be of interest to anyone who was. The below advertisement was posted at the Panda coin website and listed on it's homepage. I find Panda's to be on the expensive side but if someone is looking for it, it may be worth the extra dollars for them.


Euro Collection Complete 96 Coins from 12 Countries Price: $189.00




Everyone seems to want these! Home Shopping is selling this collection for $199.95 but you can get it from us for a lot less! You get 8 brilliant uncirculated coins (denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 & 50 Cent, and 1 & 2 Euro) in soft plastic sleeves. The two Euro denominated coins from each country are bimetallic. Each country has its own designs on one side plus a common reverse. The countries represented are Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. 96 brilliant uncirculated coins in all with a wealth of history and art reflected in the designs. Note that all of these coins were released at the beginning of 2002, but a few have earlier dates since by law in some countries coins must be dated in the year they were struck, not in the year that they were released. This is a limited edition of 50,000 sets.

 

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Sounds good to me Of course it takes away some of the fun that people have when collecting coins from circulation - but picking circulated euros up may be difficult for people in other countries. And compared to paying face value plus postage for single coins, the price is OK ...

Side note - this comment (from the dealer's site) is a little odd: Note that all of these coins were released at the beginning of 2002, but a few have earlier dates since by law in some countries coins must be dated in the year they were struck, not in the year that they were released.
Well, production of euro coins started in May 1998, but you won't find any pieces dated 1998. The euro legally replaced the pre-euro currencies on 1-Jan-1999 while the cash did not become legal tender until 1-Jan-2002, hence the different dates.

Christian

 

I was last in a euroland country - Ireland - in 2004. While there, the vast majority of coins were dated 2002. I guess Ireland dated them that way regardless of when they were minted. What I found odd was that I didn't find all that many 2003 or 2004 dated coins. Two or three, but that was it.

 

Other than Ebay, where else can you buy vatican coins?

 

I am collecting them and have some 1999 through 2001 coins that I am told are pretty rare seeing as we did not start using them until 2002.

I also have three Germany starter kits.

 

Same here in Germany. Production in DE started in August 1998, and all German euro coins produced between that time and late 2002 have the year 2002. For example, there are about 3.5 billion German 10 ct coins dated 2002 but only 130 million dated 2003. In Ireland it is basically the same: post-2002 mintages are extremely low compared to "2002" coins.

(edit) IE 10 ct: 2002 - 276 million, 2003 - 48 million.

Christian

 

They are not actually rare; it's just that most of us did not have such coins in our hands before mid-December 2001. Which years are relatively rare, and which are very common, varies widely from country to country and from denomination to denomination. See this table for example:
http://www.eurocoins.liesemeijer.com/Mintage.html

Christian

 

Update (source: APA) - Currently five European mints are interested in winning the minting contract for the Estonian euro and cent coins: Münze Österreich (AT), Rahapaja (FI), Royal Mint (UK), Münze Baden-Württemberg (DE), Monnaie de Paris (FR). The Estonian government will make a decision later this month or in early November.

According to the current schedule, production of the euro coins will start in the second half of 2006, while the cash changeover will be in early 2007. The only problem is that, due to the boosting economy, the inflation rate in Estonia is relatively high. That might be a problem for the "euro schedule" (ie. possibly result in a later introduction of the common currency) in that country.

Christian

 

I think I paid $99 for my set a couple of years back and looking around,I see that there are websites selling them for $150+ PandaAmerica and Home Shopping are high,literally

 

I've always found it ironic (in the proper definition of the word) that, although British public opinion often runs as high as 3 to 1 AGAINST the British adoption of the euro, the Royal Mint aggressively pursues euro contracts.

 

Well, the Royal Mint produces coins for many countries in the world. Why should it make an exception when it comes to euro coins? The Royal Mint (UK) made some of the Irish cent coins, the Warsaw Mint (PL) made some euro collector coins for Luxembourg, the Birmingham Mint (UK) made some of the Dutch euro coins. None of these three mints is in a euro country, but they all are EU based businesses.

Christian

 

KLJ,any Euro coin from Ireland that is dated 2003 or later is very difficult to find.The only 2007 Irish Euro coin that you may find in change is the Treaty of Rome commemorative 2 Euros.

Aidan.

 

Depends on the denomination. Don't know why this old discussion got "revived", but if you look at the Irish €1 coins, for example, 135 million pieces are dated "2002" while only 12 million are dated 2003-2006. Now with the €2 pieces that is a little different: 91 million dated 2002, 22 million dated 2003-2006. Thus a €2 IE coin dated 2003 or later is not exactly rare ...

Christian

 

I come from Spain so I have some euros in my collection. I am a big euro fan too, as the have coined many nice different coins (2 € conmemoratives, etc) and great sets. The Treat of Rome is a very good collection too.

I was having a look here now to know what you may be talking about euro. But I suppose it is easier to find information about this in European forums.

I wish I could get to Vatican list some day, too. But there is little information about this, or as you say, people do not talk a lot about this. It seems very difficult. At least, I could get the entire 2006 stamps collection. I have some Vatican sets too, that I bought on eBay.

Further comments about euro are welcome.

Regards.

 

Izotz,there's a Euro coin software coming out in July.Here's a link; www.euroreg.nl .

Aidan.

 

Thank you for the information, Aidan Work. I will have a look at it as it comes out on July.

Nevertheless, I used some software designed by a Spanish programmer, and now I use my own database to keep up to date my collection.

Still, it will be interesting to get more information about the toolbar, so you can exchange information with other users, and other features I have just read.

Thanks again!

 

Izotz,the toolbar,like the software will be available in both Dutch & English.I haven't found any free software that you can configure to your own specifications to list any coins,not just those from seleted countries.

Aidan.

 

Yes, I have the ToR coins too. Was disappointed by the quality of all Italian pieces that I have seen so far (the signatures are hardly recognizable), and the Slovenian coin was a little expensive, but I like the idea behind this common issue.

In general I prefer the coins that can be had at face value (from Spain that would be the €12 pieces but not the €10, €50, etc. coins) and of course those that can actually be used in the entire currency union - the circulation coins and the €2 commemorative coins. The euro coins/sets from the three small non-EU countries (MC, SM, VA) ... well, if I can get them, fine, but I do not aim at being complete as far as their "circulation" coins are concerned.

Since you're from Spain ... what do you think about the PSOE proposal to have more women on the Spanish circulation coins? I read that the Congreso currently debates that issue. Don't know if that can actually promote equal opportunities, but I welcome new designs any time.

Christian

 

@Aidan Work:
I suppose that those languages will be enough for most people.
As far as I have seen, the best thing for me is to make my own Access database so I can manage my data, make new queries, and insert my coins information, all over the world, not just euros. As I have just said, I know one free software program but you can't design your own reports and it is in Spanish (this is good for me but not for you).

@Christian : the Slovenian coin was quite expensive, but I was terribly lucky as I could get one roll from the Slovenian mint, a bit more expensive than face value. For those who do not know the value, let's say that I paid €2'60 and you will not find it for less than €18 (don't worry, I didn't get profit from this).

Some comments, as some non-EU people may not know about this (of course, I know that you know this) : Before the euro, there where some 2000 pesetas commemorative silver coins. They where minted for collections, but you could also use them as cash. In fact, my grandmother gave me one she got at the hairdressers'!
As euro came, 2000 pesetas = €12, so they minted €12 coins. You cannot use them as cash all over the EU. Other silver and gold commemorative coins are not circulation coins at all.

I like circulation coins too, so I hate paying for MC, SM, VA, although I have some sets.

I was discussing that issue about that women designs just this morning. Most people said that it is a pity that we have so many designs about the same things : Cervantes (the writer) and Quijote (his book) have appeared on different coins in Spain. We also welcome new designs. We also think that there should be equal opportunities for women. Sometimes they have different salaries for the same work.

But you should not force that women must be the same number, for example, in candidate elections lists, or when you are electing your ministers for your government, as PSOE (Spain government party) is trying to do.

So, I would welcome more women on coins, as well as other things : plants, animals, artists, important events, monuments... But I think it makes no sense to force it, as the idea seems to mint 8 coins for 2009 new designs : 4 for men and the other half for women.

Sorry for my poor English. I must say that this is only my opinion, and I hope it is not misunderstood. I must say too, that I strongly believe that women must be considered equal.

 

For further information...

http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news/publish/article_10930.shtml
And finally,
Congress will today debate a Socialist proposal that the Government work towards sexual equality on the Euro coins with an equal number of men and women featured on the currency. The Socialists have even named the first women they would like to see featured – Clara Campoamor, who worked for the right to vote for women in Spain some 75 years ago.

And from a Basque communications site :
http://www.eitb24.com/new/en/B24_52865/life/PROPOSAL-IN-SPANISH-PARLIAMENT-Coins-will-also-be-sign/

Coins will also be sign of equality

06/12/2007
The Spanish Parliament will expectedly pass a draft that will ask the Government to include women's pictures crafted on euro coins. The first will be Clara Campoamor's.

The Spanish Parliament will debate a draft proposed by the Socialist Party PSOE demanding the Government to reflect equality policies on coins as well.

The initiative, that will be expectedly approved, would include women's pictures crafted on euro coins. The first would be Clara Campoamor, main defender of women's vote during the Spanish Second Republic.

In the proposal, socialists remind that since 1868, when the peseta was elected as only coin in the Spanish State, women's images on coins have only been allegorical. That is why they think it's time to catch real women's images on euros.

Furthermore, the initiative was designed as a "tribute" and "compensation to so many women ignored" that "played a decisive role" in different fields.

/++++++++++++++++++++++++/
This is not completely true! : There have been some women's images on coins not only allegorical, but they have been just a few.