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CC 218 2015
2 euro coin
Proof
2 Euro Proof
Italy · 30 years of the EU flag
Mintage5,000
Issue price€20.00
Issue date9 Nov 2015
Packagingin case
Edge lettering2 ★ × 6, alternately upright/inverted
Market price€45.00
Issue occasion
The commemorative coin marks 30 years of the EU flag. The design by Georgios Stamatopoulos depicts the flag as a symbol of shared visions and ideals; twelve stars take the form of people and welcome the birth of a new Europe. The inscription “REPUBBLICA ITALIANA”, the years “1985-2015”, the mint mark R and the designer’s initials are also featured.
The design
The design shows the EU flag as a symbol that brings peoples and cultures together through shared visions 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 country “REPUBBLICA ITALIANA” and the years “1985-2015” can be read. The mintmark R is located on the right between the flag and the year figures. 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.
The twelve stars of the European flag are depicted on the outer coin ring.
Background on the topic
The flag used by the European Union (Europäische Union) today did not originally emerge within the European Communities (Europäische Gemeinschaften), but in the Council of Europe (Europarat). This international organisation, founded in 1949, introduced the circle of twelve golden stars on a blue background as its emblem in 1955. The Council of Europe later suggested using the symbol for European cooperation outside its own institutions as well.
In the European Communities, common symbols were discussed in the early 1980s. The European Parliament (Europäisches Parlament) adopted the flag in 1983. A working group appointed by the European Council (Europäischer Rat) and chaired by the Italian politician Pietro Adonnino subsequently proposed it as a symbol of the Communities. The heads of state and government approved this in 1985; since 1986, it has been used by the European institutions. The European Communities later gave rise to the European Union, so the designation EU flag became established for it.
The number of stars refers neither to the number of member states nor to a specific founding date. Twelve was chosen as a fixed number intended to express unity and completeness. The circle of stars therefore remained unchanged through the various enlargements of the European Communities and the European Union. Unlike, for example, the number of stars on the flag of the United States, it is not adjusted to reflect new members.
The anniversary provided the occasion for a joint issue by the countries of the euro area (Euro-Währungsgebiet). Such common issues combine a uniform design throughout Europe with the respective national details of the issuing countries. The design used was not determined solely by the finance ministers or mints: following a competition among European mints, a panel of experts selected five proposals on which citizens and residents of the euro area could vote online. The selection process thus involved the public in designing a common European circulating coin. The Italian issue was therefore part of a coordinated coin series and not an exclusively national commemorative issue.
In the European Communities, common symbols were discussed in the early 1980s. The European Parliament (Europäisches Parlament) adopted the flag in 1983. A working group appointed by the European Council (Europäischer Rat) and chaired by the Italian politician Pietro Adonnino subsequently proposed it as a symbol of the Communities. The heads of state and government approved this in 1985; since 1986, it has been used by the European institutions. The European Communities later gave rise to the European Union, so the designation EU flag became established for it.
The number of stars refers neither to the number of member states nor to a specific founding date. Twelve was chosen as a fixed number intended to express unity and completeness. The circle of stars therefore remained unchanged through the various enlargements of the European Communities and the European Union. Unlike, for example, the number of stars on the flag of the United States, it is not adjusted to reflect new members.
The anniversary provided the occasion for a joint issue by the countries of the euro area (Euro-Währungsgebiet). Such common issues combine a uniform design throughout Europe with the respective national details of the issuing countries. The design used was not determined solely by the finance ministers or mints: following a competition among European mints, a panel of experts selected five proposals on which citizens and residents of the euro area could vote online. The selection process thus involved the public in designing a common European circulating coin. The Italian issue was therefore part of a coordinated coin series and not an exclusively national commemorative issue.
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