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The [[euro]] ('''EUR''' or '''&#8364;''') is the common [[currency]] for most nations within the [[European Union]]. '''Euro [[coin]]s''' and [[banknote]]s (see [[euro banknotes]]) came into distribution on [[January 1]] [[2002]], but the year imprinted on the coins can date back to [[1999]], when the currency was formally established. 

One euro is divided into 100 cents and there are eight different denominations:

<table border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0">
<caption>'''Description of euro coinage'''</caption>
<tr>
<th style="background:#efefef;">Denomination</th>
<th style="background:#efefef;">Diameter</th>
<th style="background:#efefef;">Thickness </th>
<th style="background:#efefef;">Weight</th>
<th style="background:#efefef;">Composition</th>
<th style="background:#efefef;">Edge</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">'''1 cent | &#8364; 0.01'''</td>
<td><center>16.25 mm</center></td>
<td><center>1.67 mm</center></td>
<td><center>2.30 g</center></td>
<td>Steel with a copper cover</td>
<td>Smooth</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">'''2 cent | &#8364; 0.02'''</td>
<td><center>18.75 mm</center></td>
<td><center>1.67 mm</center></td>
<td><center>3.06 g</center></td>
<td>Steel with a copper cover</td>
<td>Smooth with a single groove</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">'''5 cent | &#8364; 0.05'''</td>
<td><center>21.25 mm</center></td>
<td><center>1.67 mm</center></td>
<td><center>3.92 g</center></td>
<td>Steel with a copper cover</td>
<td>Smooth</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>'''10 cent | &#8364; 0.10'''</td>
<td><center>19.75 mm</center></td>
<td><center>1.93 mm</center></td>
<td><center>4.10 g</center></td>
<td>Copper [[alloy]] ([[Nordic gold]])</td>
<td>Scalloped (ribbed edge)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>'''20 cent | &#8364; 0.20'''</td>
<td><center>22.25 mm</center></td>
<td><center>2.14 mm</center></td>
<td><center>5.74 g</center></td>
<td>Copper alloy (Nordic Gold)</td>
<td>Smooth with seven indentations ("Spanish flower")</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>'''50 cent | &#8364; 0.50'''</td>
<td><center>24.25 mm</center></td>
<td><center>2.38 mm</center></td>
<td><center>7.80 g</center></td>
<td>Copper alloy (Nordic Gold)</td>
<td>Scalloped (ribbed edge)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">'''1 euro | &#8364; 1.00'''</td>
<td><center>23.25 mm</center></td>
<td><center>2.33 mm</center></td>
<td><center>7.50 g</center></td>
<td>Inner: copper-nickel alloy<br>Outer: nickel brass</td>
<td>Six alternating segments, three<br>smooth, three finely ribbed</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">'''2 euro | &#8364; 2.00'''</td>
<td><center>25.75 mm</center></td>
<td><center>2.20 mm</center></td>
<td><center>8.50 g</center></td>
<td>Inner: nickel brass<br>Outer: copper-nickel alloy</td>
<td>Finely ribbed with edge lettering</td>
</tr>
</table>

All coins have a common front side showing how much the coin is worth, with a design by [[Belgium|Belgian]] designer Luc Luyckx. The design of the 1, 2 and 5 cent coins symbolises Europe's place in the world as a whole. The image on the 10, 20 and 50 cent coins shows the EU member states coming together (note that the EU members who are at this time not part of the euro are also depicted). Finally, the 1 and 2 euro coins depict a Europe without frontiers. All coins feature 12 stars in their design.

==Depiction of euro coinage - Reverse side ==
<table border="0" cellpadding="2">
<tr>
<th>&#8364; 0.01</th>
<th>&#8364; 0.02</th>
<th>&#8364; 0.05</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>[[image:1c_comm.png]]</center></td>
<td><center>[[image:2c_comm.png]]</center></td>
<td><center>[[image:5c_comm.png]]</center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>'''&#8364; 0.10'''</center></td>
<td><center>'''&#8364; 0.20'''</center></td>
<td><center>'''&#8364; 0.50'''</center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>[[image:10c_comm.png]]</center></td>
<td><center>[[image:20c_comm.png]]</center></td>
<td><center>[[image:50c_comm.png]]</center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>'''&#8364; 1.00'''</center></td>
<td><center>'''&#8364; 2.00'''</center></td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>[[image:1e_comm.png]]</center></td>
<td><center>[[image:2e_comm.png]]</center></td>
<td><center>[[Image:euro_symbol.png]]</center></td>
</tr>
</table>

Each country participating in the euro has its own design on the national side of the coin. These designs vary from simply depicting the same design on all coins (e.g. Belgium) to a different design for every coin (e.g. Italy). However, all coins again feature 12 stars in some way or another on this side as well. To view each country's national sides, please choose from the links below, which are listed in the order preferred by the [[European Central Bank]] (alphabetically by their names in their native languages).

*[[Belgian euro coins]]
*[[German euro coins]]
*[[Greek euro coins]]
*[[Spanish euro coins]]
*[[French euro coins]]
*[[Irish euro coins]]
*[[Italian euro coins]]
*[[Luxembourg euro coins]]
*[[Dutch euro coins]]
*[[Austrian euro coins]]
*[[Portuguese euro coins]]
*[[Finnish euro coins]]

Though they are not members of the EU, [[Monaco]], [[San Marino]] and [[Vatican City]] (but not [[Andorra]]) also have euro coins featuring a national side, but these are not expected to end up in general circulation, but rather are more of interest to [[coin collecting|coin collectors]]. The coins from Monaco feature the royal family's [[coat of arms]] and seal and the portrait of the current ruler, [[Prince Rainier III]]; those from San Marino have various towers and public buildings from the small nation on them as well as the national coat of arms and the Vatican coins present the portrait of [[Pope John Paul II]]. Having coins with the effigy of a religious leader accepted as legal tender caused some controversy in certain countries such as [[France]].

The coins were minted in several of the participating countries, many using blanks produced at [[Birmingham Mint]], [[Birmingham]], [[England]].

==Design changes ==
No further changes will be made to the common side of the coins until [[2007]] at the earliest. 

Member states may not change their national reverse for five years. There are some exceptions, though. If the head of state of a country dies or abdicates, coins depicting the new one may be minted.

Regarding the minting of commemorative coins, the European Commission lifted the ban in late [[2003]]. From that time any eurozone country may issue commemorative �2 coins. These coins will be valid through all the eurozone. The first such coins will be issued by [[Greece]] to commemorate the [[2004 Summer Olympics|2004 Olympic Games]].

== External links==
*[http://www.euro.ecb.int/ European Central Bank (www.euro.ecb.int)]
*[http://www.eurocoins.co.uk/ Euro Coins] (including design fantasies for the UK, Denmark and Sweden)

Newsgroups:
*news://europa.union.euro
*news://rec.collecting.coins
[[ca:Monedes Euro]]
[[es:Monedas  Euro]]
[[de:Eurom�nzen]]
[[eo:E&#365;ro-moneroj]]
[[it:Monete Euro]]
[[nl:Euromunten]]
[[ja:&#12518;&#12540;&#12525;&#30828;&#36008;]]
[[ro:Monede euro]]
[[sv:Euromynt]]

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====References====
* Adapted from the [[Wikipedia]] article, "Euro_coins" [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euro_coins http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euro_coins], used under the [[GNU Free Documentation License]]