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CC 213 2015
Coincard
BU
Coincard
Estonia · 30 years of the EU flag
Mintage3,500
Issue price€7.00
Issue date10 Dec 2015
PackagingCoincard
Market price€149.00
Issue occasion
The commemorative coin marks 30 years of the EU flag. The design shows the flag as a symbol of the unity of peoples and cultures with shared ideas and ideals; its twelve stars take the form of people welcoming the birth of a new Europe. Also shown are the inscription “EESTI”, the years “1985–2015” and the initials of the designer Georgios Stamatopoulos.
The design
The design depicts the EU flag as a symbol that brings together peoples and cultures with shared visions and ideals for shaping a better future. Twelve stars take on the form of people and welcome the birth of a new Europe. At the top right along the coin ring, the issuing country “EESTI” and the years “1985-2015” can be read. The initials of the designer (Georgios Stamatopoulos) are shown at the bottom right.
The twelve stars of the European flag are depicted on the outer coin ring.
The twelve stars of the European flag are depicted on the outer coin ring.
Background on the topic
The star flag now known as the EU flag was initially created within the Council of Europe (Europarat), an international organisation founded in 1949 and independent of the European Union (Europäische Union). Its Committee of Ministers (Ministerkomitee) adopted the emblem on 8 December 1955. The flag was therefore used long before the foundation of the European Union. In 1983, the European Parliament (Europäisches Parlament) advocated adopting it as a symbol of the European Communities (Europäische Gemeinschaften) of that time as well. In 1985, the heads of state and government approved this step; from 1986 onwards, the flag was used by the institutions of the Communities. The anniversary refers to this adoption, not to the original design of 1955.
The number of stars does not correspond to the number of member states. The Council of Europe had already established twelve stars, although it then comprised a different number of states. Twelve was chosen as an unchanging number symbolising completeness and unity. Consequently, the circle of stars did not change during the later enlargements of the European Communities and the European Union. The circular arrangement likewise represents solidarity without highlighting individual states.
The European Union was established under this name only with the Maastricht Treaty (Vertrag von Maastricht), which entered into force in 1993. The flag was retained and became one of the best-known European symbols. It appears on the buildings of the EU institutions, at official events and alongside the flags of the member states. Legally and historically, it remains the emblem of the Council of Europe at the same time.
The anniversary provided an opportunity for a joint coin issue because the flag is a symbol used across national borders. In such joint issues, several countries release the same basic design, while details concerning the respective issuing country are retained. For Estonia (Estland), participation also had a more recent integration-policy background: the country joined the European Union in 2004 and introduced the euro in 2011. The issue thus placed Estonia within a joint action by the countries of the euro area (Euro-Währungsgebiet).
The number of stars does not correspond to the number of member states. The Council of Europe had already established twelve stars, although it then comprised a different number of states. Twelve was chosen as an unchanging number symbolising completeness and unity. Consequently, the circle of stars did not change during the later enlargements of the European Communities and the European Union. The circular arrangement likewise represents solidarity without highlighting individual states.
The European Union was established under this name only with the Maastricht Treaty (Vertrag von Maastricht), which entered into force in 1993. The flag was retained and became one of the best-known European symbols. It appears on the buildings of the EU institutions, at official events and alongside the flags of the member states. Legally and historically, it remains the emblem of the Council of Europe at the same time.
The anniversary provided an opportunity for a joint coin issue because the flag is a symbol used across national borders. In such joint issues, several countries release the same basic design, while details concerning the respective issuing country are retained. For Estonia (Estland), participation also had a more recent integration-policy background: the country joined the European Union in 2004 and introduced the euro in 2011. The issue thus placed Estonia within a joint action by the countries of the euro area (Euro-Währungsgebiet).