Euro gold and silver commemorative coins

This article covers only the Gold and Silver issues of the euro commemorative coins (collectors coins). It also includes some rear cases of bimetal collectors coins (Titanium, Niobium, etc.). See for circulating commemorative coins.

Introduction

In the Eurozone, as a legacy of old national practice is the minting of silver and gold commemorative coins. Unlike normal issues, these coins "are not legal tender in all the Eurozone", but only in the country where the coin was issued. For instance, a €10 Finnish commemorative coin cannot be used in the Netherlands.

Despite this, these coins are not really intended to be used as means of payment, as their bullion value generally vastly exceeds their face value, so it does not constitute a serious problem. The major exception is Germany, where silver ten euro commemoratives are available at banks and some retailers at face value. The coins, however, generally do not circulate.

It is uncertain whether the Council of Ministers will grant them legal tender status elsewhere outside national boundaries, as San Marino, Monaco and Vatican City also issue these kind of coins.

Europa Coin Programme

The Europa Coin Program is a multi-member participation of minting precious metal coin with a particular theme.
*2004 - EU enlargement cite web | url=http://www.rsmint.com | title=Royal Scandinavian Mint]
*2005 - Peace & freedom
*2006 - Distinguished European figures cite web | url=http://www.eurocollections.com/catalog/?category=113 | title=eurocollections Europa Coin Program]
*2007 - European Realisation [ [http://www.centralbankmalta.org/site/la_valette_gold.html Maltese Commemorative Coins - The Central Bank of Malta ] ]
*2008 - Cultural heritage

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This is a summary of the euro gold and silver commemorative coins issued by all countries in the eurozone.

Austria

Infobox Country|maxwidth=250px|width=250px
native_name = _de. "Republik Österreich"
local_name = Republik Österreich
conventional_long_name = Republic of Austria
common_name = Austria

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Austria joined the eurozone in 2002, and from the very beginning they have been minting a fairly large set of collectors' coins. The record was reached in 2004, when 14 different coins were minted. Also this year, there was a unique and particular edition of a very special coin: the €100,000 Vienna Philharmonic, only 15 coins minted.

Austria use mainly gold and silver for their collectors' coins. However, since 2003 a special bimetal coin, €25 face value, has been minted using silver and colored niobium, giving this set of coins a unique characteristic, since they have different color variations every year.

With the exception of the 2004 Vienna Philharmonic coin and the recently introduced 2008 silver €1.25 Vienna Philharmonic, there is no variation in the number of issues when sorted by face value, from €5 to €100 there is a similar number of issues every year.

Vienna Philharmonic Coin

A unique piece in the Austrian collection is the Vienna Philharmonic coin. This coin is struck in pure gold, 999.9 fine (24 carats). It is issued every year, in four different face values, sizes and weights. It is used as an investment product (bullion coin), although it finishes almost always in hands of collectors. According to the World Gold Council, was the best selling gold coin in 1992, 1995 and 1996 world wide.

Since 1st February 2008, this coin is being minted in Silver as well. Both side of the coin features as on the Vienna Philharmonic pure gold coin. Its face value of „1,50 Euro“ gives the silver piece its coin character, but is not relevant for the actual market value of the coin.

2008 Europe Taler

Once again Austria makes a major milestone in numismatics: the launch of the largest silver coin in the world has been made by Hall in Tirol. It has been revealed on the occasion of the 2008 European Championship of Football in Austria and Switzerland. The front side design of the coin is as old as five centuries. 500 years ago in Trient, Kaiser Maximilian I crowned himself Emperor and a propaganda coin was issued by the Mint in Hall. In the coin was written: "King of all the lands in Europe”. This inscription included the word “Europe” for the first time. The obverse corresponds to that from the time of Maximilian in 1508. It shows the emperor mounted in armour on a horse. This massive coin has a diameter of 360 mm and a weight of 20.08 kg.

A smaller version for collectors will also be minted and will be sold at €108. [cite web | url=http://europataler.at/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7&Itemid=5&lang=en | title=2008 Europe Taler web site.]

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Finland

Infobox Country|maxwidth=250px|width=250px
native_name = _en. "Finland"
conventional_long_name = Finland

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Finland joined the eurozone in 2002, and they continued their tradition of minting collectors' coins. They do not mint too many coins per year; only 3 to 4 coins. The record was reached in 2005 with 5 coins minted.

Finland, like no other country in the union, has a tendency to use mainly silver in their collectors' coin issues and a very distinctive way of alternating other materials, like Gold, Nickel-Copper, Nordic Gold ... etc. They have minted more bimetal collectors' coins than gold coins. That is the main reason why the vast majority of the Finish coins have a low face value, with almost 70% of their issues having a face value of €10 or €5. As a result, the Finish gold coins have a really high value in the market because they are fairly difficult to find.

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Germany

Infobox Country|maxwidth=250px|width=250px
native_name = _en. "Germany"
conventional_long_name = Federal Republic of Germany

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Italy

Luxembourg

Infobox Country|maxwidth=250px|width=250px
native_name = _gl. "Luxembourg"
conventional_long_name = Luxembourg

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Monaco

Netherlands

Infobox Country|maxwidth=250px|width=250px
native_name = _en. "Netherlands"
conventional_long_name = Netherlands

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Netherlands joined the eurozone in 2002, and they continued their tradition of minting collectors' coins. They do not mint too many coins per year; average is 2 silver and 2 gold coins per year. The record was reached in 2006 with 6 coins minted.

Some issues are also minted in Netherlands Antillean guilder and in Aruban florin. These commemorative coins have the same subject, but a different design. They are also minted in a gold and in a silver version.

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lovakia

Infobox Country|maxwidth=250px|width=250px
native_name = _en. "Slovakia"
conventional_long_name = Slovakia

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Slovakia will join the Eurozone on 1 January 2009. They already have two variations of Slovak commemorative coins scheduled to be minted in 2009. These special high-value commemorative coins are not to be confused with €2 commemorative coins, which are coins designated for circulation and do have legal tender status in all countries of the Eurozone. [cite web | publisher=European Commission | url=http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/the_euro/notes_coins8787_en.htm | title=Different types of euro coins | accessdate=2008-10-08] So far the coins will be in silver with face value 10 and 20 euro respectively.

lovenia

Infobox Country
native_name = "Republika Slovenija"
conventional_long_name = Republic of Slovenia
common_name = Slovenia

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Slovenia joined the Eurozone in January 1, 2007. Although they did not mint any collectors' coin in 2007, in such a short time they already built a small collection, with face value ranging from €3 to €100. Is right here, in the face value, where the uniqueness of the Slovenian coins can be found. They have so far €3, €30 and €100 coins; using other materials, silver and gold for each of those coins.

Since the coins are fairly new, they can be easily obtained in the market at a lower value compared to the coins of other countries in the eurozone, particularly those difficult coins to find of 2002 or 2003.

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Vatican City

Infobox Country
native_name ="Stato della Città del Vaticano" it icon
conventional_long_name = State of the Vatican City
common_name = Vatican City

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References

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