EURO
European Union standard euro coins
The €uro
The euro coin series comprises eight different denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent, €1 and €2. The euro coins have a common side and a national side. The national side indicates the issuing country. The common sides of the coins were designed by Mr Luc Luycx of the Royal Belgian Mint.
Common sides
The common sides of the eight euro coins have different designs:
€2 and €1, 50, 20 and 10 cent show from 1 January 2007, a geographical image of Europe. Coins from Italy (including San Marino and the Vatican City), Austria and Portugal show the more recent design only if they are dated “2008” or later.
Microstates
In Europe, there are several dwarf states. Because of their size, they are often closely related to other large countries. At the moment, European dwarf states have close ties with the European Union.
They are outside the European Union, some due to high membership prices or other reasons.
Euro coins 1999 - 2018
The design of the common sides of the 10, 20 and 50 cent and 1- and 2-euro coins has been modified during 2007 to reflect the enlargement of the EU in 2004. The new common designs have been introduced progressively as from 2007, and have become mandatory for all new coin production from 2008.
Euro notes design elements
Initials of the European Central Bank in five linguistic variants - BCE, ECB, EZB, EKT and EKP for the first series and in ten linguistic variants for the second series.
Each banknote bears the signature of either Willem F. Duisenberg, Jean-Claude Trichet or Mario Draghi – the first, second and third Presidents of the European Central Bank respectively. These banknotes are all equally valid.
European Union Countries
Austria, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland, France, Estonia;
Andorra Vatican City Monaco San Marino
The Schengen Area is one of the greatest achievements of the EU. It is an area without internal borders, an area within which citizens, many non-EU nationals, business people and tourists can freely circulate without being subjected to border checks. Since 1985, it has gradually grown and encompasses today almost all EU States and a few associated non-EU countries.
While having abolished their internal borders, Schengen States have also tightened controls at their common external border on the basis of Schengen rules to ensure the security of those living or travelling in the Schengen Area.
List of countries in Schengen area:
Austria Belgium Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Italy Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands
Norway Poland Portugal Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland