Euro coins issues

Spanish euro coins feature three different designs for each of the three series of coins. The minor series of 1, 2 and 5 cent coins were designed by Garcilaso Rollán, the middle series of 10, 20, and 50 cent coins by Begoña Castellanos and the two major coins feature the portrait or effigy of King Juan Carlos of Spain by the hand of Luis José Diaz. All designs feature the 12 stars of the EU and the year of minting.

Portuguese euro coins show three different designs for each of the three series of coins. However, they are quite similar in that all contain old royal mints and seals within a circle of seven castles and five coats of arms and the word “Portugal”. Also featured in the designs, all done by Vitor Manuel Fernandes dos Santos, are the 12 stars of the EU and the year of minting.

Dutch euro coins have two designs by Bruno Ninaber van Eyben, both of which feature a portrait or effigy of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. All coins share the 12 stars of the EU and the year of imprint in their design.
The country is considering decommissioning the one and two cent coins.

Luxembourg euro coins feature three different designs, though they all contain the portrait or effigy of Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg. The designs, by Yvette Gastauer-Claire, also contain the 12 stars of the EU flag, the year of imprint and the name of the country “Lëtzebuerg” in the local language. Luxembourg does not mint its own coins, they are therefore produced in the Netherlands.
As it is the first time that the Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg figures on the coins, his head is turned to the left. On other coins, containing the portrait of the head of the country, the head is turned to the right (meaning that its not the first time coins are mint with the portrait).

Italian euro coins all have a design unique to one coin , though there is a common theme of famous Italian works of art from one of Italy’s renowned artists. Each coin is designed by a different designer, from the 1 cent to the 2 euro coin they are: Eugenio Driutti, Luciana De Simoni, Ettore Lorenzo Frapiccini, Claudia Momoni, Maria Angela Cassol, Roberto Mauri, Laura Cretara and Maria Carmela Colaneri. All designs feature the 12 stars of the EU, the year of imprint and the overlapping letters “RI” for Repubblica Italiana (Italian Republic). There are no Italian euro coins dated earlier than 2002, even if they were imprinted earlier for sure, as they were first distributed to the public in December 2001.

Irish euro coins all share the same design by the hand of Jarlath Hayes, that of the harp, a traditional symbol for Ireland since the Middle Ages, based on that of the Brian Boru Harp, housed in Trinity College Dublin, and said to have once been owned by ancient High King of Ireland, Brian Boru. The same harp is used as the official Irish state symbol, the Great Seal of Ireland. The coins’ design also features the 12 stars of the EU, the year of imprint and the Irish language word for Ireland, ”Éire”, in the traditional Gaelic script alphabet.