Ireland · 30 years of the EU flag

Issue date16 Oct 2015

Total mintage1,000,000

EU maximum1,000,000

Editions2

Edge lettering2 ★ ★ × 6, alternating upright/inverted

InscriptionéiRe / 1985-2015 / GS

DesignerGeorgios Stamatopoulos

mintCentral Bank Currency Centre, Sandyford, Ireland PP: Münze Österreich AG, Wien

Issue occasion

The coin commemorates the 30th anniversary of the EU flag. The design by Georgios Stamatopoulos depicts the EU flag as a symbol of the connection between peoples and cultures with shared ideas and ideals; twelve stars take the form of people and welcome the birth of a new Europe. Also shown are the inscription “éiRe”, the years “1985-2015” and the designer’s initials.

The design

The design depicts the EU flag as a symbol bringing nations and cultures together through shared ideas and ideals for shaping 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 state “éiRe” and the years “1985-2015” can be seen. At the bottom right, the initials of the designer (Georgios Stamatopoulos) are shown.

The twelve stars of the European flag are depicted on the outer coin ring.

Background on the topic

The European flag did not initially emerge within the framework of today’s European Union. The Council of Europe (Europarat), an international organisation founded in 1949 and independent of the EU, introduced the symbol in 1955. The twelve golden stars are arranged in a circle on a blue background. Their number refers neither to the number of member states at the time nor to the present number. Twelve was chosen as a fixed number intended to express unity and completeness; the circle represents the togetherness of the peoples of Europe.

In the 1980s, the European Communities, from which the EU later emerged, also began seeking a common visual symbol. Until then, their institutions had primarily been represented by their own emblems. In 1985, the Communities’ heads of state and government approved the use of the flag already used by the Council of Europe. Since 1986, it has been used by the European institutions. The anniversary observed in 2015 refers to this year of political adoption.

With the Maastricht Treaty, the European Union was established in 1993 and continued using the flag in practice. It appears in front of EU institutions, at official events and on documents. The blue background with the circle of stars is also found on driving licences and vehicle registration plates, as well as frequently on public buildings. The number of stars remained unchanged despite the enlargements of the Communities and the Union.

The issue formed part of the joint commemorative coin programmes of the euro area. In such issues, the participating countries mint the same central design, supplementing it with their respective country designation. Previously, these programmes had included the Treaties of Rome, ten years of Economic and Monetary Union and ten years of euro banknotes and coins. The flag anniversary lent itself to a joint issue because the symbol depicted is not attributable to a single state, but is used by all EU institutions and member countries. The selection through a public vote also involved citizens and residents of the euro area directly in the design.