The euro is the result of an ambitious project by the European Union (EU) to create a single currency for most of Western Europe. It is now the official currency of fifteen nations. Each participating country issues euro coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 euro cents (a euro cent is one one-hundredth of a euro), as well as 1 and 2 euros. All euro coins of the same denomination share the same 'common face,' but each country may render its own 'national face' design on the opposite side of the coin. As a result the euro coins, like the US state quarters or Canadian Confederation quarters, serve as a small but compelling mosaic of a fascinating part of the world.

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Euro Coin Pictures
Note: Coins of different denominations are different sizes.

Coin Descriptions:

Obverse

All Euro Countries

  • 1 cent, 2 cent, 5 cent: Coins name their value and show twelve stars (symbolizing the twelve original EU members to adopt the euro) at the termini of six lines. A globe highlights EU nations.
  • 10 cent, 20 cent, 50 cent: Coins name their value and show twelve stars (symbolizing the twelve original EU members to adopt the euro) at the termini of six lines. An 'exploded' map shows the various EU nations spaced apart.
  • 1 euro, 2 euro: Coins name their value and show twelve stars (symbolizing the twelve original EU members to adopt the euro) at the termini of six lines. A map shows the EU nations.

    Reverse

    Austria

  • 1 euro cent: gentian, an alpine flower
  • 2 euro cent: edelweiss, an alpine flower
  • 5 euro cent: primula, an alpine flower
  • 10 euro cent: spires of St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna
  • 20 euro cent: Belvedere Palace in Vienna and its wrought iron gate
  • 50 euro cent: Secession exhibition building in Vienna
  • 1 euro: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
  • 1 euro: Bertha von Suttner, Austrian winner of the Nobel Peace Prize (1905)

    Belgium

  • All coins: His Majesty Albert II, King of the Belgians

    Finland

  • 1 euro cent, 2 euro cent, 5 euro cent, 10 euro cent, 20 euro cent, 50 euro cent: Finnish heraldic lion
  • 1 euro: two swans flying over a Finnish landscape
  • 2 euro: cloudberries and cloudberry flowers

    France

  • 1 euro cent, 2 euro cent, 5 euro cent: 'Marianne'
  • 10 euro cent, 20 euro cent, 50 euro cent: Allegorical 'Sower'
  • 1 euro, 2 euro: Symbolic tree with "Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité" and FR (initials of French Republic)

    Germany

  • 1 euro cent, 2 euro cent, 5 euro cent: German oak twig
  • 10 euro cent, 20 euro cent, 50 euro cent: Brandenburg Gate in Berlin
  • 1 euro, 2 euro: federal eagle, traditional symbol of German sovereignty

    Greece

  • 1 euro cent: Athenian trireme (an ancient Greek warship)
  • 2 euro cent: Corvette or 'dromon' (ship used during Greek war of independence in 1821)
  • 5 euro cent: Modern commercial tanker ship
  • 10 euro cent: Rigas Velestinlis
  • 20 euro cent: Ioannis Capodiastrias
  • 50 euro cent: Eleftherios Venizelos
  • 1 euro: ancient Athenian 4 drachma coin showing an owl
  • 2 euro: abduction of Europa by Zeus in the form of a bull

    Ireland

  • All coins: Harp (traditional Irish symbol)

    Italy

  • 1 euro cent: Castel del Monte
  • 2 euro cent: Mole Antonelliana
  • 5 euro cent: Coliseum in Rome
  • 10 euro cent: detail of 'Nascita di Venere' by Sandro Botticelli
  • 20 euro cent: sculpture 'Forme uniche di continuità nello spazio,' by Umberto Boccioni
  • 50 euro cent: Campidoglio square, showing paving by Michelangelo and equestrian statue by Marco Aurelio
  • 1 euro: Vitruvian Man by Leonardo da Vinci
  • 2 euro: portrait by Dante Alighieri

    Luxembourg

  • 1 euro cent, 2 euro cent, 5 euro cent: His Royal Highness the Grand Duke Henri, depicted in the classical style
  • 10 euro cent, 20 euro cent, 50 euro cent: His Royal Highness the Grand Duke Henri, depicted in the traditional linear style
  • 1 euro, 2 euro: His Royal Highness the Grand Duke Henri, depicted in 'new style' linear graphics

    Monaco

  • 1 euro cent, 2 euro cent, 5 euro cent: Coat of arms of the Sovereign Princes of Monaco
  • 10 euro cent, 20 euro cent, 50 euro cent: the Prince's seal
  • 1 euro: Prince Rainier III and Prince Albert
  • 2 euro: His Highness, Prince Rainier III

    Netherlands

  • 1 euro cent, 2 euro cent, 5 euro cent, 10 euro cent, 20 eurocent, 50 euro cent: Her Majesty the Queen Beatrix (with stars)
  • 1 euro, 2 euro: Her Majesty the Queen Beatrix (with vertical lines)

    Portugal

  • 1 euro cent, 2 euro cent, 5 euro cent: seal of the first King of Portugal, Dom Afonso Henriques, with castles & coats of arms
  • 10 euro cent, 20 euro cent, 50 euro cent: another seal of the first King of Portugal, Dom Afonso Henriques, with castles & coats of arms
  • 1 euro, 2 euro: still another seal of the first King of Portugal, Dom Afonso Henriques, with castles & coats of arms

    San Marino

  • 1 euro cent: The Third Tower, Montale
  • 2 euro cent: The Statue of Liberty
  • 5 euro cent: The First Tower, Guaita
  • 10 euro cent: Basilica of Saint Marino
  • 20 euro cent: Saint Marino, based on a canvas of the Guercino school
  • 50 euro cent: The Three Towers (Guaita, Cesta, and Montale)
  • 1 euro: official coat of arms of the Republic
  • 2 euro: the Government Building (Palazzo Pubblico)

    Spain

  • 1 euro cent, 2 euro cent, 5 euro cent: Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
  • 10 euro cent, 20 euro cent, 50 euro cent: Don Miguel de Cervantes
  • 1 euro, 2 euro: His Majesty King Juan Carlos I

    Vatican

  • All Coins: His Holiness John Paul II, Sovereign of the State of Vatican City

    Principal Source: Official Journal of the European Communities 28.12.2001 373/1-30