€2 commemorative coins - 2014
The descriptions on this page have been taken from the Official Journal of the European Union and may therefore deviate slightly from other material published on this website.
Spain
Feature: Change of the Head of State
Description:The design depicts the overlapping portraits of Kings Felipe VI and Juan Carlos I. At the bottom the name of the issuing country and the year of issuance: ‘ESPAÑA — 2014’. At the right, the mint mark. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 12 million coins
Issuing date: December 2014
France
Feature: The fight against AIDS by way of World AIDS Day
Description: The red ribbon, symbolising the fight against AIDS, is featured in the coin’s central field. The ribbon was created by the Visual AIDS Artists Caucus and the US painter Frank Moore. It should be worn close to the heart to symbolise solidarity with AIDS sufferers and is in the shape of an upside-down V. The idea is for it to be worn as a V one day to signify victory over the disease. There are three ribbons in the central field. One is in the conventional position and will be coloured red for the brilliant uncirculated (BU) and proof (PRF) versions. The other two ribbons are inverted and associated with two Vs to strengthen the symbolism of the much-hoped-for victory over the disease. The date 1 December, Unesco World AIDS Day, appears at the top of the central field. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 3 million coins
Issuing date: November 2014
Finland
Feature: The 100th Anniversary of the birth of designer and interior designer Ilmari Tapiovaara
Description:The left inner part of the design shows Ilmari Tapiovaara’s name and years. The right inner part of the design depicts a close-up from the furniture fitting characteristic for Ilmari Tapiovaara. At the right the indication of the issuing country ‘FI’, the mint mark and the year of issuance ‘2014’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 1 million coins
Issuing date: November 2014
Vatican City
Feature: 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall
Description: The design depicts some bricks of the partially collapsed Berlin Wall in the foreground, with the wording ‘XXV ANNIVERSARIO DEL CROLLO DEL MURO DI BERLINO 1989 2014’ (25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall 1989 2014) written within the bricks. An olive branch can be seen in the centre, in a gap between the bricks and a piece of barbed wire, and the Brandenburg Gate appears in the background. At the top, the words ‘CITTA’ DEL VATICANO’ are inscribed. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 103,000 coins
Issuing date: October 2014
Slovenia
Feature: The 600th anniversary of the crowning of Barbara Celjska
Description: The central image of the coin shows, with lined pattern, the portrait of the Queen Barbara of Celje with her sceptre. On the image are placed three typical six-pointed stars of Celje counts. On the left side of the portrait is the inscription ‘SLOVENIJA’ and on the right side the inscription ‘BARBARA CELJSKA’ and the years ‘1414-2014’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 1 million coins
Issuing date: October 2014
Luxembourg
Feature: 50th anniversary of the accession to the throne of the Grand-Duke Jean
Description: The coin’s inner part depicts the effigies of Their Royal Highnesses, the Grand-Duke Henri and the Grand-Duke Jean, both looking to the left. It is surmounted by the year ‘1964’ above the effigy of the Grand-Duke Jean and by a crown. At the bottom, the names ‘Jean’ and ‘Henri’ appear below the respective effigy as well as the year ‘2014’. The inscription ‘50e ANNIVERSAIRE DE L’ACCESSION AU TRÔNE DU GRAND-DUC JEAN’ encloses in circular form the upper inner part of the coin. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 1.4 million coins
Issuing date: October 2014
Portugal
Feature: The International Year of Family Farming
Description: On the central part of the design are represented tools typically used in the traditional agriculture, together with farming products: a chicken in the center, surrounded by pumpkins, a basket of potatoes, and other vegetables and flowers. On the left side, in semi-circle, the subject of the commemoration ‘AGRICULTURA FAMILIAR’ (Family Farming) and on the right side, in semi-circle, the name of the issuing country ‘PORTUGAL’ followed by the year of issuance ‘2014’. At the bottom left the mintmark ‘INCM’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 500,000 coins
Issuing date: October 2014
Malta
Feature: Malta Independence 1964
Description:The coin commemorating the Malta Independence constitution of 1964 is the fourth in the series of five coins that commemorate constitutional milestones in Maltese history. By means of the 1964 constitution Malta became an independent nation for the first time after hundreds of years of foreign domination. The national side of the coin shows a detail of the bronze monument commemorating Independence which was designed by the artist Gianni Bonnici in 1989. It shows a young woman, representing Malta, carrying the Maltese flag. At the right, in semi-circle, the inscription ‘MALTA — Independence 1964’ and at the bottom the year of issuance ‘2014’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 400,000 coins
Issuing date: October 2014
San Marino
Feature: 90th anniversary of the death of Giacomo Puccini
Description: The designs shows a portrait of the composer Giacomo Puccini. At the right the name of the issuing country, in semi-circle, ‘SAN MARINO’. At the left the inscription ‘G. PUCCINI’ and the mint mark. At the bottom the year ‘2014’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 100,000 coins
Issuing date: September 2014
Belgium
Feature: 150 years of the Belgian Red Cross
Description: The inner part of the coin features a cross with the number ‘150’ in its centre. The vertical and horizontal bars of the cross bear the words ‘Rode Kruis’ and ‘Croix-Rouge’ respectively. The cross is surrounded by the mark of the Brussels mint (a helmeted profile of the archangel Michael), the signature mark of the Master of the Mint, the year 2014, and the country code ‘BE’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 260,000 coins
Issuing date: September 2014
Greece
Feature: 150th anniversary of the union of the Ionian Islands with Greece (1864-2014)
Description: The inner part of the coin depicts a seven-pointed star inscribed in Greek with the words: ‘150 YEARS SINCE THE UNION OF THE IONIAN ISLANDS (EPTÁNISA) WITH GREECE 1864-2014’, the name of the issuing country ‘HELLENIC REPUBLIC’ and the mint mark of the Greek State Mint. The spaces between the points of the star feature the symbols of the Ionian Islands. The entire design is encircled in a decorative stylised wave motif. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 750,000 coins
Issuing date: September 2014
Greece
Feature: 400 years since the death of Domenikos Theotokopoulos (1614-2014)
Description: The inner part of the coin shows a portrait of Domenikos Theotokopoulos. The background features a typical figure from his work, illustrative of his technique. On the left: the year 2014 and the characteristic signature of the artist (‘Domenikos Theotokopoulos Epoiei’). On the right: the mint mark of the Greek State Mint. The entire design is encircled in an inscription reading in Greek ‘DOMENIKOS THEOTOKOPOULOS 1541-1614’ and the name of the issuing country ‘HELLENIC REPUBLIC’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 750,000 coins
Issuing date: September 2014
Latvia
Feature: Riga — European Capital of Culture 2014
Description: The central image of the coin shows the skyline of Riga and the historic centre of the city that has been included in the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. At the top of the image, the inscription ‘EIROPAS KULTURAS GALVASPILSETA’ (European capital of culture) and at the bottom the name of the celebrated city and the year of issuance ‘RIGA — 2014’, and underneath the indication of the issuing country ‘LV’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 1 million coins
Issuing date: September 2014
Malta
Feature: 200 years of Malta Police Force
Description: The coin commemorates the 200th anniversary of the Malta Police Force which was set up by means of proclamation XXII of 1814. Thus the Malta Police Force is one of the oldest in Europe. The national side of the coin depicts the badge of the Malta Police Force with the legend ‘200 Years Malta Police Force’ and the dates 1814-2014. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 300,000 coins
Issuing date: July 2014
San Marino
Feature: 500th anniversary of the death of Bramante Lazzari delle Penne di San Marino
Description: The coin depicts Bramante’s portrait, and part of Tempietto (Italian: ‘small temple’), which is a small commemorative tomb built by Donato Bramante, possibly as early as 1502, in the courtyard of San Pietro in Montorio and considered a masterpiece of the High Renaissance Italian architecture. The inscription ‘BRAMANTE LAZZARI DELLE PENNE DI SAN MARINO’ surrounds almost completely the design. At the left and right the years ‘1514’ and ‘2014’, respectively. At the bottom the initials of the artist ‘MCC’ (Maria Carmela Colaneri) and the mint mark. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 110,000 coins
Issuing date: June 2014
Finland
Feature: 100th Anniversary of the birth of author and artist Tove Jansson
Description: The inner part of the coin depicts Tove Jansson’s portrait. Under the portrait the signature ‘Tove Jansson’ and the years ‘1914-2001’. At the left the indication of the issuing country ‘FI’. At the right the year of issuance ‘2014’ and the mint mark. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 1.5 million coins
Issuing date: June 2014
Italy
Feature: 200th Anniversary of the foundation of Arma dei Carabinieri
Description: The design shows a reinterpretation of the sculpture ‘Pattuglia di Carabinieri nella tormenta’ made in 1973 by Antonio Berti; on the right, superimposed letters of the Italian Republic monogram ‘RI’/2014; on the left, 1814; up, superimposed letters R (monogram of the Mint of Rome); in exergue, LDS (monogram of the Author Luciana De Simoni)/CARABINIERI. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 6.5 million coins
Issuing date: June 2014
Italy
Feature: 450th Anniversary of the birth of Galileo Galilei (born in 1564)
Description: The design shows the head of Galileo Galilei from the painting of Justus Sustermans, 1636 (Florence, Galleria degli Uffizi); around, upside, GALILEO GALILEI; on the right, superimposed letters R (monogram of the Mint of Rome)/astronomic telescope/C.M. (monogram of the Author Claudia Momoni); on the left, superimposed letters of the Italian Republic monogram ‘RI’; in exergue 1564-2014. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 6.5 million coins
Issuing date: June 2014
France
Feature: 70th anniversary of the Normandy landings of 6 June 1944
Description: In the coin’s central field the word D-DAY is written in such a way as to depict a landing craft and a tank gun barrel. The years 1944-2014 appear above the tank gun, with the inscription ‘70e anniversaire du débarquement’ (70th anniversary of the landings) further down. The distinctive footprints left by the boots worn by American, British and Canadian troops are gradually disappearing in the sand, washed away by a wave. The words of a poem by Verlaine used as a code for the start of the landings are engraved on the wave: ‘Les sanglots longs des violons de l’automne blessent mon coeur d’une langueur monotone’ (the long sobs of the violins of autumn wound my heart with a monotonous languor). The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 3 million coins
Issuing date: June 2014
Netherlands
Feature: The official farewell to the former Queen Beatrix
Description: The inner part of the coin depicts the effigies of both the King Willem-Alexander and the former Queen Beatrix. At the left, in semi-circle, the inscription ‘WILLEM-ALEXANDER KONING DER NEDERLANDEN’ and at the right, in semi-circle, the inscription ‘BEATRIX PRINSES DER NEDERLANDEN’. Between the two inscriptions, at the top, the crown symbol and at the bottom the mint master mark, the mint mark and in between the year of issuance ‘2014’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 1 million
Issuing date: May 2014
Slovakia
Feature: 10th anniversary of the accession of the Slovak Republic to the European Union
Description: At the centre of the national side are the stylised letters ‘EÚ’, as the abbreviation of the European Union, with the coat of arms of the Slovak Republic incorporated in the foreground. On the right-hand side of the inner part of the coin, in two lines, is the date of the Slovak Republic's accession to the European Union, ‘1.5.2004’, and immediately below it the year ‘2014’. Inscribed along the bottom edge of the inner part is the name of the issuing country, ‘SLOVENSKO’, while in a semi-circle along the upper edge is the inscription ‘10. VÝROČIE VSTUPU DO EURÓPSKEJ ÚNIE’. To the lower left is the mint mark of Kremnica Mint (composed of the letters ‘MK’ between two dies), and to the lower right are the stylised letters ‘MP’, the initials of the designer, Mária Poldaufová. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 1 million coins
Issuing date: April 2014
Portugal
Feature: 40th Anniversary of the 25th April Revolution
Description: The two curves represent the general shape of a carnation, the flower symbolizing the movement, which was also the origin of the revolution’s name. The name of the issuing country ‘PORTUGAL’ and the Coat of Arms are inscribed on the top of the flower. The center of the image shows the date of the event ‘25 DE ABRIL’ (25th April) and at the bottom is written the number of years past since the revolution ‘40 ANOS’ (40 years) and the year of issuance ‘2014’. The shape of the letters and numbers is inspired on those used in posters and other political information supports 40 years ago, as a symbol of the euphoric period lived right after the event. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 500,000 coins
Issuing date: April 2014
Belgium
Feature: Centenary of the start of the First World War
Description: The coin’s central field depicts a poppy above the years 2014-18. Below these years appears the inscription ‘The Great War Centenary’, under which are the signature mark of the Master of the Mint and the mark of the Brussels mint, a helmeted profile of the archangel Michael. The top of the central field features the trilingual inscription ‘BELGIE — BELGIQUE — BELGIEN’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 1.75 million coins
Issuing date: April 2014
Spain
Feature: UNESCO's World Cultural and Natural Heritage Sites — Park Güell
Description: The coin depicts in the foreground a lizard sculpture which is the Park Güell emblem and was designed by the architect Antoni Gaudí. As background a detail of one of the pavilions situated at the Park Güell entrance. At the top, in circular sense and in capital letters the words ‘ESPAÑA’ and ‘PARK GÜELL — GAUDÍ’. At the left the year of issuance ‘2014’ and at the right the mintmark. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 8 million coins
Issuing date: March 2014
Andorra
Feature: 20 years in the Council of Europe
Description: The design shows at the centre left the coat of arms of Andorra followed by the inscription "20" where the zero is stylised to represent the Council of Europe's flag. At the top are the inscriptions "ANDORRA" and underneath "AL CONSELL D'EUROPA". The year "2014" appears at the bottom left followed by an oblique line. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 100 000 coins
Issuing date: February 2014
Luxembourg
Feature: 175th anniversary of the independence of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg
Description: The coin depicts on the right hand side of its inner part the effigy of His Royal Highness, the Grand-Duke Henri, looking to the right, and on the left hand side of its inner part, vertically positioned, the years ‘1839’ and ‘2014’ and the name of the issuing country ‘LËTZEBUERG’. The inscriptions ‘ONOFHÄNGEGKEET’ and ‘175 Joër’ appear at the bottom of the inner part of the coin. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 1.4 million coins
Issuing date: January 2014
Germany
Feature: Niedersachsen from the ‘Lander’ series
Description: The desigh shows the Church of St. Michael in Hildesheim, Lower Saxony which has been on the Unesco World Cultural Heritage list since 1985. At the top the year of issuance ‘2014’ and at the left the mintmark (A, D, F, G, J). At the bottom, the inscription ‘NIEDERSACHSEN’ and underneath the indication of the issuing country ‘D’. At the top right, the initials of the engraver OE (Ott Erich). The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 30 million coins
Issuing date: January 2014