Belgium, Finland, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, San Marino and the Vatican have issued EUR 2 commemorative coins in 2006. Germany’s first EUR 2 commemorative coin is the first of a series of coins designed to increase the European public’s awareness of Germany’s federal structure. Each coin is dedicated to a federal state. The coins will be issued in the order of rotation of the Bundesrat presidency (the Upper House of the German parliament representing the federal states) beginning with Schleswig-Holstein in 2006.
Italy
Feature: XX. Olympic Winter Games in Torino
Description: The foreground shows a skier racing, against a background of stylised graphic elements: the monogram of the Italian Republic "RI" at the top left, below it the letter "R" and an image of Turin’s landmark Mole Antonelliana building with the inscription "TORINO" below; the words "GIOCHI INVERNALI" at the top right; to the right of the skier, the year of issue, 2006, written vertically, and the initials of the designer, Maria Carmela Colaneri, MCC. The twelve stars of the European Union encircle the design.
Issuing volume: a maximum of 40 million coins
Issuing date: January/February 2006
Luxembourg
Feature: 25th birthday of the heir to the throne, The Grand-Duke Guillaume
Description: The coin depicts on the left-hand side of the inner part the effigy of His Royal Highness, The Grand-Duke Henri looking to the right, superimposed on the effigy of the hereditary Grand-Duke Guillaume, on the right-hand side of the inner part. The date 2006 appears below both effigies, flanked by the letter "S" and the logo of the Mint. The word "LËTZEBUERG" appears above the effigies along the upper edge of the inner part of the coin. The 12 stars surround the design on the outer ring of the coin.
Issuing volume: a maximum of 1.1 million coins
Issuing date: January 2006
Germany
Feature: The federal structure of Germany
Description: The inner part of the coin shows a representation of the "Holstentor", the landmark gate of the town of Lübeck. The word "Schleswig-Holstein" appears underneath the gate at the bottom of the inner part. The engraver’s initials "HH" are depicted on the right hand side of the design. One of the letters "A", "D", "F", "G" or "J" appears as the mintmark on the left hand side of the design. Twelve stars form a semicircle on the upper part of the outer ring, interrupted by the year of mintage "2006" at the top of the coin. The words "Bundesrepublik Deutschland" form a semicircle on the lower part of the outer ring.
Issuing volume: a maximum of 30 million coins
Issuing date: February 2006
Belgium
Feature: Atomium
Description: An image of Atomium is shown in the centre of the coin and the engraver’s initials "LL" to its right. Two mintmarks appear near its base. The outer ring of the coin features the 12 stars of the European Union, the letter "B" and the year of mintage "2006".
Issuing volume: 5 million coins
Issuing date: April 2006
Finland
Feature: 100th anniversary of the universal and equal suffrage
Description: The inner part of the coin shows male and female faces separated by a line. On the left side of the coin, is the date 1 October 1906 and on the right side, is the year with the imbedded country abbreviation "20 FI 06". The mint mark "M" appears at the left of each face. The twelve stars of the European flag are depicted on the outer ring.
Issuing volume: a maximum of 2.5 million coins
Issuing date: October 2006
Edge lettering: "SUOMI FINLAND ***" (where the * stands for a lion’s head).
San Marino
Feature: 500th anniversary of the death of Christopher Columbus
Description: portrait of Christopher Columbus and a representation of the three Caravels; above the portrait the inscription "SAN MARINO" and the wind rose; in the middle the mint mark "R"; below, the dates "1506 – 2006" in a cartouche and the initials of the author Luciana De Simoni "LDS"; on the outer ring, the twelve stars of the European flag surrounding the design.
Issuing volume: 120,000 coins
Issuing date: October 2006
Edge lettering: 2* repeated six times, alternately upright and inverted
Vatican
Feature: 5th centenary of the Swiss Pontifical Guard
Description: The coin features a Swiss guard taking the solemn oath on the Swiss Guard flag. The inscription "GUARDIA SVIZZERA PONTIFICIA" surrounds the guard, forming a semi-circle which is complemented under the flag by the name of the issuing state "CITTÁ DEL VATICANO". The year 1506 appears on the left side, above the signature of the engraver "O. ROSSI" along the pole of the flag. The year 2006 appears on the upper right side, above the mint mark "R". The twelve stars of the European flag are depicted on the outer ring.
Issuing volume: a maximum of 100,000 coins
Issuing date: November 2006
Edge lettering: 2* repeated six times, alternately upright and inverted.
