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CC 211 2015
2 euro coin
BU Main coin Bank issue
2 Euro BU
Belgium · 30 years of the EU flag
Mintage400,000
Issue date18 Nov 2015
Edge lettering2 ★ ★ × 6, alternating upright/inverted
Market price€8.90
Issue occasion
The occasion is the thirtieth anniversary of the EU flag. The design by Georgios Stamatopoulos depicts the EU flag as a symbol of the solidarity of peoples and cultures sharing common views and ideals; twelve stars take the form of people and welcome the birth of a new Europe. Also shown are the designation “BELGIE-BELGIQUE-BELGIEN” and the years “1985-2015”.
The design
The design shows the EU flag as a symbol that brings peoples and cultures together through common ideas and ideals to shape a better future. Twelve stars take the form of people and welcome the birth of a new Europe. At the top right along the coin ring, the issuing country in its three national languages, “BELGIE-BELGIQUE-BELGIEN”, and the years “1985-2015” can be seen. The mint master’s mark and the mint mark (head of the Archangel Michael wearing a helmet) are located on the right between the flag and the year dates. The designer’s initials (Georgios Stamatopoulos) are shown at the bottom right. The twelve stars of the European flag are depicted on the outer coin ring.
Background on the topic
The 2015 anniversary did not refer to the flag’s original creation, but to its adoption by the then European Communities in 1985. The emblem had already been designed and used within the framework of the Council of Europe (Europarat). Founded in 1949, this organisation is institutionally separate from the European Union and is concerned in particular with human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Its Committee of Ministers adopted the flag in 1955.
The number of stars does not represent the number of Member States. It therefore remained unchanged even through the multiple enlargements of the European Communities and the European Union. Twelve was chosen as a symbol of completeness and unity; the circular arrangement refers to unity. Accordingly, no additional stars were added when new states joined.
In 1985, the European Council decided to adopt the already established European emblem for the European Communities. Their institutions had used the flag since 1986. The European Union in the modern sense did not emerge until the Treaty of Maastricht (Vertrag von Maastricht) entered into force in 1993. The designation “EU flag” is therefore commonly used for the anniversary, although historically the anniversary refers to a decision by the predecessor organisations.
Alongside the European anthem and Europe Day, the flag is one of the common European symbols. Its legal status was politically contentious for a time: the Treaty of Lisbon did not expressly establish these symbols as components of the treaty text. However, several Member States separately declared that they continued to regard the flag as an expression of their belonging to the European Union; the EU institutions also continue to use it unchanged.
The anniversary was suitable for a joint coin issue because the flag is not associated with any individual Member State. Such joint issues enable the countries of the euro area to feature the same European occasion on their national coin sides, while retaining the respective state markings. The issue thus also established a connection between the flag’s political symbolism and the euro as a common means of payment.
The number of stars does not represent the number of Member States. It therefore remained unchanged even through the multiple enlargements of the European Communities and the European Union. Twelve was chosen as a symbol of completeness and unity; the circular arrangement refers to unity. Accordingly, no additional stars were added when new states joined.
In 1985, the European Council decided to adopt the already established European emblem for the European Communities. Their institutions had used the flag since 1986. The European Union in the modern sense did not emerge until the Treaty of Maastricht (Vertrag von Maastricht) entered into force in 1993. The designation “EU flag” is therefore commonly used for the anniversary, although historically the anniversary refers to a decision by the predecessor organisations.
Alongside the European anthem and Europe Day, the flag is one of the common European symbols. Its legal status was politically contentious for a time: the Treaty of Lisbon did not expressly establish these symbols as components of the treaty text. However, several Member States separately declared that they continued to regard the flag as an expression of their belonging to the European Union; the EU institutions also continue to use it unchanged.
The anniversary was suitable for a joint coin issue because the flag is not associated with any individual Member State. Such joint issues enable the countries of the euro area to feature the same European occasion on their national coin sides, while retaining the respective state markings. The issue thus also established a connection between the flag’s political symbolism and the euro as a common means of payment.
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