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БългарскиReverse
Obverse
Austria · 30 years of the EU flag
Issue date30 Oct 2015
Total mintage2,500,000
EU maximum2,500,000
Editions1
Edge lettering2 EURO ★★★ × 4, alternating upright/inverted
InscriptionREPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH / 1985-2015 / GS
DesignerGeorgios Stamatopoulos
mintMünze Österreich AG, Wien
Issue occasion
The commemorative coin honours the 30th anniversary of the EU flag. The design shows the flag as a symbol of the connection between 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 “REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH”, the years “1985-2015” and the initials of the designer Georgios Stamatopoulos.
The design
The design shows the EU flag as a symbol bringing peoples and cultures together through shared 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 upper right along the coin ring, the issuing state “REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH” and the years “1985-2015” can be seen. The designer’s initials (Georgios Stamatopoulos) are shown at the lower right.
The outer coin ring depicts the twelve stars of the European flag.
The outer coin ring depicts the twelve stars of the European flag.
Background on the topic
The flag used today by the European Union (Europäische Union) originally emerged within the Council of Europe (Europarat), which is not part of the EU. After its foundation in 1949, the Council of Europe spent several years searching for a common European symbol. On 8 December 1955, its Committee of Ministers (Ministerkomitee) adopted the blue field with a circle of twelve golden stars as its emblem.
The number of stars never represented the number of member states. Even when it was introduced, it did not correspond to their number at the time. Instead, twelve was chosen as a fixed number intended to express completeness and unity. The circle symbolises solidarity. The design therefore remained unchanged even after later enlargements of the European organisations.
The European Communities (Europäische Gemeinschaften), from which today’s European Union emerged, initially had no uniform flag. In 1983, the European Parliament (Europäisches Parlament) spoke in favour of adopting the Council of Europe’s emblem. In June 1985, the heads of state and government of the European Communities approved its use. Since 1986, it has been used by the Community institutions. The anniversary year 2015 thus referred to this political decision of 1985, not to the original adoption by the Council of Europe three decades earlier.
At the same time, the flag developed into a general symbol of European cooperation. It therefore represents not only the EU: the Council of Europe continues to use it as well. The two organisations are institutionally separate and have different tasks and memberships.
The coin issue was conceived as a joint project of the countries in the euro area. Consequently, the same basic design was issued in several countries, with the respective country designation adapted. The selection process initially narrowed down proposals from European mints through a panel of experts; a public online vote then made the final decision. The occasion thus combined an anniversary of the European institutions with a cross-border coordinated issue within the common currency area.
The number of stars never represented the number of member states. Even when it was introduced, it did not correspond to their number at the time. Instead, twelve was chosen as a fixed number intended to express completeness and unity. The circle symbolises solidarity. The design therefore remained unchanged even after later enlargements of the European organisations.
The European Communities (Europäische Gemeinschaften), from which today’s European Union emerged, initially had no uniform flag. In 1983, the European Parliament (Europäisches Parlament) spoke in favour of adopting the Council of Europe’s emblem. In June 1985, the heads of state and government of the European Communities approved its use. Since 1986, it has been used by the Community institutions. The anniversary year 2015 thus referred to this political decision of 1985, not to the original adoption by the Council of Europe three decades earlier.
At the same time, the flag developed into a general symbol of European cooperation. It therefore represents not only the EU: the Council of Europe continues to use it as well. The two organisations are institutionally separate and have different tasks and memberships.
The coin issue was conceived as a joint project of the countries in the euro area. Consequently, the same basic design was issued in several countries, with the respective country designation adapted. The selection process initially narrowed down proposals from European mints through a panel of experts; a public online vote then made the final decision. The occasion thus combined an anniversary of the European institutions with a cross-border coordinated issue within the common currency area.
Interesting Facts
This commemorative coin is not included in any annual coin set.
eBay price analysis
For this issue, there is a price history based on actual eBay sales – with median, range and number of sales
View price analysis2 Euro BU
- Mintage
- 2,500,000
- Market price
- €5.90
- Edge lettering
- 2 EURO ★★★ × 4, alternating upright/inverted
Mintage by issue type
BU
2,500,000