The map does not include Iceland and cuts off on the right through Russia (at a line from the Kandalaksha Gulf to the Bosphorus). The reverse (used from 2007 onwards) was designed by Luc Luycx and displays a map of Europe on the left. The coins have been used from 2002, though some are dated 1999 which is the year the euro was created as a currency, but not put into general circulation. The coins' edges are smooth with seven indentations from the coin's 'Spanish flower' shape. The coins are composed of an alloy called nordic gold, with a diameter of 22.25 mm, a 2.14 mm thickness and a mass of 5.74 grams. Two more designs were added in 2008 with the entry of Cyprus and Malta and another one in 2009 with Slovakia, and two more for Estonia and Latvia were added in 20, respectively. Hence, the Slovenian design was added to the designs in circulation. The redesign in 2007, rather than in 2004, was because 2007 saw the first enlargement of the eurozone the entry of Slovenia. This map showed Europe, not just the EU, as one continuous landmass, however Cyprus was moved west as the map cut off after the Bosporus (which was seen as excluding Turkey for political reasons). National designs have seen some changes due to new rules stating that national designs should include the name of the issuing country (Finland and Belgium both do not show their name, and hence have made minor changes).Īs the EU's membership has since expanded in 20, with further expansions envisaged, the common face of all euro coins from the value of 10 cent and above were redesigned in 2007 to show a new map.

This happened in Monaco and the Vatican City resulting in three new designs in circulation (the Vatican had an interim design until the new Pope was selected). National designs were not allowed to change until the end of 2008, unless a monarch (whose portrait usually appears on the coins) dies or abdicates. The national sides, then 15 (eurozone + Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican who could mint their own) were each designed according to national competitions, though to specifications which applied to all coins such as the requirement of including twelve stars (see euro coins for more). The design of the 10 to 50 cent coins were intended to show separate states of the European Union (EU), as opposed to the one and two euro coins showing the 15 states as one and the 1 to 5 cent coins showing the EU's place in the world. The common side was designed by Luc Luycx, a Belgian artist who won a Europe-wide competition to design the new coins. The coin dates from 2002, when euro coins and banknotes were introduced in the 12 member eurozone and its related territories.

20 euro cent coin