Commemorating 10 years of Economic and Monetary Union

To celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the launch of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) and the creation of the euro, all euro-area countries will issue a commemorative 2-euro coin with a common design. It will be available at the beginning of 2009.

A design competition between the mints of the euro area has resulted in the pre-selection by the Mint Directors of 5 designs, presented here. The final winning design will be selected exclusively by your votes via this web page.

 

The selection is open to all EU citizens and residents. Each person may only vote once. A prize of a set of high-value euro collector coins will go to a participant chosen at random from those who voted for the winning design. Voting will be closed on 22 February 2008.

Coin above (left): An expanding spiral of ten stars – or ten Europeans joining hands – symbolises the solidity of the euro after ten years of economic and monetary union, and its continuing growth and development.

Go to the European Commission website to vote.

 

The euro is the latest step in the long history of trade, from pre-historic barter – evoked by the deliberately primitive design – to economic and monetary union.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next to the euro symbol, the Roman figure X stands for 10 years of economic and monetary union. It also symbolises Europe as a crossroads where peoples and cultures come together. The spiral suggests growth and development.

 

 

 

Next to the euro symbol, the Roman figure X stands for 10 years of economic and monetary union. It also symbolises Europe as a crossroads where peoples and cultures come together.

 

A series of curved lines pointing toward the euro is reminiscent of the European Parliament's semi-circular debating chamber, where the people's representatives gather from every corner of the EU.