New national side of euro coins intended for circulation
(2022/C 100/04)
National side of the new commemorative 2-euro coin intended for circulation and issued by France
Euro coins intended for circulation have legal tender status throughout the euro area. For the purpose of informing the public and all parties who handle the coins, the Commission publishes a description of the designs of all new coins (1). In accordance with the Council conclusions of 10 February 2009 (2), euro-area Member States and countries that have concluded a monetary agreement with the European Union providing for the issuing of euro coins are allowed to issue commemorative euro coins intended for circulation, provided that certain conditions are met, particularly that only the 2-euro denomination is used. These coins have the same technical characteristics as other 2-euro coins, but their national face features a commemorative design that is highly symbolic in national or European terms.
Issuing country: France
Subject of commemoration: The 90th anniversary of President Jacques Chirac’s birth
Description of the design: President of the French Republic for two terms, Jacques Chirac was a major architect of the European construction. As such, he was President when the Euro was introduced in 2002, whose 20th anniversary we celebrate at the beginning of this year.
The design shows a solemn profile of President Jacques Chirac looking towards the future. He is surrounded by several symbols representing his actions: a euro symbol, as sign of his involvement in the introduction of the Euro and his European spirit, and a French flag represented in heraldic colours, itself embellished with the RF as a reference to his presidency. His dates and name are inserted in the Euro’s logo. The mintmarks as well as the year date fit into the design.
The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.
Estimated number of coins to be issued: 9 000 000
Date of issue: January 2022
(1) See OJ C 373, 28.12.2001, p. 1 for the national faces of all the coins issued in 2002.
(2) See the conclusions of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council of 10 February 2009 and the Commission Recommendation of 19 December 2008 on common guidelines for the national sides and the issuance of euro coins intended for circulation (OJ L 9, 14.1.2009, p. 52).