€2 commemorative coins - 2016
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.
Greece
Feature: 150 years from the Arkadi Monastery Torching
Description: The design features the Arkadi Monastery. Inscribed, at centre, is the wording ‘ARKADI MONASTERY’ and along the inner edge at left ‘HELLENIC REPUBLIC’, in Greek. Visible at upper right is the year of issuance ‘2016’ and below the central inscription a palmette (the mintmark of the Greek Mint). Inscribed at lower right is the monogram of the artist (George Stamatopoulos). The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: max 750 000 coins
Issuing date: December 2016
Greece
Feature: 120 years from the birth of Dimitri Mitropoulos
Description: The design features the portrait of Dimitri Mitropoulos against the background of music notes. Inscribed along the inner edge at left is the wording ‘120 YEARS OF THE BIRTH OF DIMITRI MITROPOULOS’ and ‘HELLENIC REPUBLIC’, in Greek. At upper left apears the year of issuance ‘2016’ and a palmette (the mintmark of the Greek Mint). Visible at lower right is the monogram of the artist (George Stamatopoulos). The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: max 750 000 coins
Issuing date: December 2016
Andorra
Feature: 25th anniversary of the Radio and Television of Andorra
Description: The design shows a microphone and an antenna circled by several circular lines with the inscription ‘25è ANIVERSARI DE RÀDIO I TELEVISIÓ D’ANDORRA’, the year of issuance ‘2016’ and the name of the State of issuance ‘ANDORRA’. This commemorative coin celebrates the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Andorran public media with the beginning of the broadcast of the Andorran public radio and public television. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 85 000 coins
Issuing date: December 2016
Andorra
Feature: 150 years of the New Reform 1866
Description: The design shows the main room of ‘Casa de la Vall’ (premises of the Andorran Parliament) with the inscription ‘150 ANYS DE LA NOVA REFORMA DE 1866’, the year of issuance ‘2016’ and the name of the State of issuance ‘ANDORRA’. This commemorative coin celebrates the 150 years of the New Reform Decree, one of the biggest steps on the Andorran and on the Consell General (Andorran Parliament) history, which represented a social and political transformation in the Principality of Andorra. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 85 000 coins
Issuing date: December 2016
Malta
Feature: The role of the Malta Community Chest Fund in Society
Description: This coin is envisaged to commemorate the role of the Malta Community Chest Fund in Society through a programme for secondary school students entitled ‘From Children in Solidarity’. This programme identifies the social role of children in five different areas with the first theme being ‘Solidarity through Love’. This design was created by Ms Sarah Cilia a secondary school student who has expressed this theme through two hands forming a heart shape which displays a representation of the Maltese flag. At the bottom of the design is the inscription ‘MALTA 2016’. Two stylised representations of human bodies are designed on the left wrist and two on the right one. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 380 000 coins
Issuing date: November 2016
Latvia
Feature: Vidzeme
Description: The designs shows the coat of arms of the historical region of Latvia — Vidzeme or Livland. At the top there is the inscription of the issuing country ‘LATVIJA’ and at the bottom the inscription ‘VIDZEME’. At the right is the year of issuance ‘2016’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 1 030 000 coins
Issuing date: November 2016
France
Feature: François Mitterrand
Description: The design shows a profile of a pensive François Mitterrand. Adjacent is his personal emblem of a half oak/half olive tree. Above are the dates marking the centenary of his birth (‘1916’ and ‘2016’) and his name. At the bottom, the indication of the issuing country ‘RF’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 10 million coins
Issuing date: October 2016
Vatican
Feature: Jubilee of Mercy
Description: The national face features St Martin of Tours sharing his cloak with a poor man. The design is surrounded by the inscriptions ‘GIUBILEO DELLA MISERICORDIA’ at the left and ‘CITTÀ DEL VATICANO’ at the right, both in semi-circle. At the right there is as well the year of issuance ‘2016’ and at the bottom the mint mark ‘R’ and the name of the artist ‘M. CRISCIOTTI’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 105 000 coins
Issuing date: October 2016
Finland
Feature: The 100th anniversary of the birth of philosopher Georg Henrik von Wright
Description: At the inner part of the coin is an ancient Doric pillar, and an oak branch at the left. The inscription ‘GEORG HENRIK VON WRIGHT’ is placed in semi-circle from left to right and the year of issuance ‘2016’ is placed on the top at the right. On the top at the left is the indication of the issuing country ‘FI’ and the mint mark. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 1 million coins
Issuing date: October 2016
San Marino
Feature: 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare
Description: The design depicts a portrait of the poet. On the right, in a semi-circle, the dates ‘1616-2016’ and the name of the issuing country ‘San Marino’; on the bottom right, the initials of the artist ‘MB’. On the left, in a semi-circle, the inscription ‘William Shakespeare’; on the bottom left, the mintmark ‘R’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 85 000 coins
Issuing date: September 2016
Malta
Feature: Ġgantija Temples
Description: The coin depicts the Ġgantija Temples situated on the Island of Gozo. Ġgantija is a megalithic temple complex dating to the Neolithic ages. It is one of the world's oldest free-standing structures, as well as one of the oldest religious structures. Built approximately in the 36th century BC, Ġgantija pre-dates Stonehenge and the Egyptian Pyramids. At the top right the inscription ‘ĠGANTIJA TEMPLES’ and underneath the years ‘3600-3200 BC’. At the bottom left the name of the country of issuance ‘MALTA’ and underneath the year of issuance ‘2016’, flanked by the mint master mark and the mint mark. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 350 000 coins
Issuing date: July 2016
Portugal
Feature: 50 years of the first bridge uniting the two riverbanks of the Tejo River
Description: The design depicts the image of the bridge. At the top right is the inscription ‘PORTUGAL’. At the bottom right are the inscriptions ‘PONTE’, ‘25 DE ABRIL’, ‘1966’ and ‘2016’, one below the other. At the bottom left is the mintmark ‘INCM’ and at the bottom centre is the name of the designer ‘JOSÉ AURÉLIO’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 500 000 coins
Issuing date: July 2016
Lithuania
Feature: The Baltic culture
Description: The design shows an amber disc, one of the most characteristic symbols of the Baltic culture. The disc is decorated with a crosspiece of drilled dots — an ornament symbolising the world’s axis. At the top is the name of the issuing country ‘LIETUVA’, flanked by the mint mark and the year of issuance ‘2016’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 1 million coins
Issuing date: May 2016
Vatican City
Feature: The 200th anniversary of the Vatican Guard
Description: The national face features a Vatican Guard in front of the Dome of St. Peter’s Basilica. At the top, in semi-circle is the inscription ‘CORPO DELLA GENDARMERIA 1816-2016’. At the bottom, in semi-circle is the name of the issuing country ‘CITTÀ DEL VATICANO’. The mint mark ‘R’ appears at the left of the design and the name of the designer ‘D. Longo’ appears at the right. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 105 000 coins
Issuing date: June 2016
Latvia
Feature: Latvian agricultural industry
Description: The designs shows a Latvian brown cow which is one of the symbols of Latvian dairy farming both in folklore and in life. Underneath the design, at the left side there is the inscription of the year of issuance ‘2016’ and at the bottom of the inner circle the name of the issuing country ‘LATVIJA’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 1 010 000 coins
Issuing date: June 2016
Monaco
Feature: The 150th anniversary of the foundation of Monte Carlo by Charles III
Description: The design shows CHARLES III within the background MONTE CARLO. At the top is the name of the issuing country ‘MONACO’ flanked by the mint mark and the mint master mark. At the bottom, in semi-circle from left to right is the inscription ‘1866 CHARLES III FONDE MONTE CARLO 2016’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 15 000 coins
Issuing date: June 2016
Slovenia
Feature: The 25th anniversary of independence of the Republic of Slovenia
Description: Over the left part of the inner circle is obliquely positioned a line. At its right, in the upper part of the coin is the inscription ‘25 LET’ and below it the inscription ‘REPUBLIKA SLOVENIJA’. Underneath these inscriptions is the original Prešeren’s written record of the part of the Slovenian hymn Zdravljica ‘dočákat’ dan’. At the bottom of the inner circle is the year ‘2016’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 1 million coins
Issuing date: June 2016
Belgium
Feature: International Missing Children’s Day
Description: The inner part of the coin displays in its centre the face of a child surrounded by the words ‘MISSING-DISPARU-VERMIST’, ‘WWW.CHILDFOCUS.BE’ and the trilingual indication of nationality ‘BELGIQUE-BELGIE-BELGIEN’ followed by the year 2016. The mark of the Brussels mint, a helmeted profile of the archangel Michael and the signature mark of the Master of the Mint appear to the left and right respectively of the face. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 1 020 000 coins
Issuing date: May 2016
Finland
Feature: The Finnish writer and lyricist Eino Leino
Description: At the inner part of the coin is a flame, and a poker pointing upwards to the right. The inscription ‘EINO LEINO’, in semi-circle and the year of issuance ‘2016’ are placed at the right. At the bottom left is the indication of the issuing country ‘FI’ and the mint mark. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 1 million coins
Issuing date: April 2016
San Marino
Feature: 550th anniversary of the death of Donatello
Description: The design depicts, in the foreground on the left, a portrait of David, being a detail of the bronze sculpture by Donatello. At centre top, the mintmark ‘R’; on the right, the name of the issuing country ‘SAN MARINO’; at bottom right, the inscription ‘Donatello’, the dates ‘1466-2016’ and, in the centre, the initials of the artist ‘MB’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 85 000 coins
Issuing date: April 2016
Portugal
Feature: Portuguese team participating in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games
Description: The design shows an image based on the well-known artwork ‘Heart of Viana’, signed by the author Joana Vasconcelos, which was inspired by traditional jewellery from the north of Portugal (the area around the city of Viana do Castelo). It symbolises the Portuguese people’s support for the national team on the occasion of the Olympics. At the left and the right, in semi-circle, are the inscriptions ‘JOANA VASCONCELOS’ and ‘EQUIPA OLÍMPICA DE PORTUGAL 2016’, respectively. At the bottom is the mint mark ‘INCM’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 650 000 coins
Issuing date: March 2016
Italy
Feature: 550th anniversary of the death of Donatello
Description: Head of Donatello’s David (detail of the bronze sculpture on display in the National Museum of Bargello, Florence). On the left, ‘RI’, the monogram of the Italian Republic’; on two lines below, ‘1466’ and ‘2016’. On the right, ‘C.M.’, the initials of the author Claudia Momoni; below, ‘DONATELLO’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 1.5 million coins
Issuing date: March 2016
Italy
Feature: 2200th anniversary of the death of Tito Maccio Plauto
Description: Theatre masks representing two New Comedy characters, a young woman and a slave, from a mosaic of the second century AD (Capitoline Museums, Rome); around, the construction plan of a Roman theatre and ‘RI’, the monogram of the Italian Republic; on the left, ‘R’, and on the right, ‘LDS’, the initials of the author Luciana De Simoni; below, ‘184 A. C.’, ‘2016’ and ‘PLAUTO’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 1,5 million coins
Issuing date: March 2016
Belgium
Feature: Olympic Games
Description: The inner part of the coin depicts, from top to bottom, a stylised figure, the five Olympic rings and the inscription ‘TEAM BELGIUM’. The year 2016 is written on the left-hand side of the coin. The country code ‘BE’ appears on the right-hand side of the coin, between the mark of the Brussels mint, a helmeted profile of the archangel Michael, and the signature mark of the Master of the Mint. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 375 000 coins
Issuing date: March 2016
Slovakia
Feature: The first Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union
Description: The design centres on the coat of arms of the Slovak Republic, shown against a background of dynamic centripetal lines representing the position and importance of the Slovak Republic during its presidency of the Council of the European Union. To the right of the coat of arms: the year ‘2016’. Around the edge of the inner circle: the country name ‘SLOVENSKO’ (Slovakia) and the inscription ‘PREDSEDNÍCTVO SR V RADE EÚ’ (Slovak Presidency of the EU Council), separated by graphical symbols. The mint mark of Kremnica Mint, composed of the letters ‘MK’ between two die, and the stylised initials of the designer of the national side, Vladimír Pavlica, ‘VP’, are in the lower part of the composition. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 1 million coins
Issuing date: March 2016
Luxembourg
Feature: The 50th anniversary of the ‘Grand Duchess Charlotte Bridge’
Description: The design shows the ‘Grand Duchess Charlotte Bridge’, which is the main infrastructure connecting the city centre of Luxembourg to the urban quarter of Kirchberg, the location of the city’s European Union institutions. The French name of the bridge, ‘Pont Grande-Duchesse Charlotte’, is inscribed on the image of the bridge, and the year ‘1966’ appears directly beneath this text. At the top of the design, an image of the Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg; at its left, the year of issuance ‘2016’. At the bottom appears the name of the issuing country, ‘LUXEMBOURG’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 1 million coins
Issuing date: first quarter of 2016
Germany
Feature: Saxony (Federal States series)
Description: The design shows a view of the world-famous Zwinger Palace in Dresden, namely of the inner yard giving way to the Crown Gate. It includes the name ‘SACHSEN’ (Saxony) and the country code ‘D’ at the bottom, the mint mark of the respective mint (‘A’, ‘D’, ‘F’, ‘G’ or ‘J’) as well as the engraver’s mark (the initials ‘JT’ for Jordi Truxa) at the top right and the year ‘2016’ at the top left. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 30 million coins
Issuing date: February 2016
Spain
Feature: Unesco’s World Cultural and and Natural Heritage Sites – Segovia
Description: The design depicts in the foreground the aqueduct of Segovia. At the top of the inner circle, and following the circular shape of the coin, is the name of the issuing country ‘ESPAÑA’; underneath it, the year of issuance ‘2016’. At the top right is the mint mark. The coin's outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.
Issuing volume: 8 million coins
Issuing date: February 2016
Austria
Feature: 200 years of Oesterreichische Nationalbank
Description: The design depicts a carved relief with two gods from Roman mythology standing before the entrance to the main building of the Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB): to the left, Mercury, the messenger of the gods and the god of merchants and commerce; to the right, Fortuna, the goddess of fate and prosperity, who is portrayed with a horn of plenty. The background detail, running from the left to the right edges of the core, shows the OeNB’s main premises. An ornamental band skirting the bottom of the coin centre evokes the red-white-red pattern of the Austrian national flag, with hatched vertical lines symbolising the colour red, as laid down in the rules of heraldic design. The years ‘1816’ and ‘2016’ to the left of Mercury refer to the OeNB’s founding year and its bicentennial. The inscriptions running along the edges of the gold-coloured centre read ‘Republik Österreich’ (Republic of Austria) and ‘200 Jahre Oesterreichische Nationalbank’ (200 years of Oesterreichische Nationalbank). The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 16 million coins
Issuing date: January 2016
France
Feature: 2016 UEFA European Championship
Description: Held every four years since 1960, the UEFA European Championship – the sporting highlight commonly referred to as ‘the Euro’ – took place in France from 10 June to 10 July 2016. Euro 2016, the fifteenth edition of the competition, was organised by the Union of European Football Associations, and brought together the best men’s football teams in Europe. The winner of the competition received a small-scale version of the Henri Delaunay Cup, named after the man who invented it. The design of the coin features the Henri Delaunay Cup in the middle of an outline map of France, along with the two marks of the Paris Mint. The letters ‘RF’ for République Française (French Republic) are to the right of the map of France, and the name of the competition, ‘UEFA EURO 2016 France’, appears above it. Below the map, a football stands out in the foreground. All of this is set on a background that features graphical elements representing the competition. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 10 million coins
Issuing date: January 2016
Estonia
Feature: 100th anniversary of the birth of the famous Estonian chess grandmaster Paul Keres
Description: The coin features a portrait of the great Estonian chess player Paul Keres with some chess pieces. At the top left, in semi-circle, is the inscription ‘PAUL KERES’; the name of the issuing country ‘EESTI’ appears directly below it, with the year of issuance ‘2016’ on the line underneath. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 500 000 coins
Issuing date: January 2016
Ireland
Feature: 100 years since the 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland
Description: The design shows the statue of Hibernia perched at the top of the General Post Office building – the seizure of which marked the beginning of the Easter rising back in 1916. She is a symbol of Ireland. Her name was taken from the ancient Greek reference for Ireland and her form was realised by the sculptor John Smyth. She is viewed as a witness to the events of 1916 and, in the 100 years since, she has seen the nation blossom before her based on the ideals set out in the Proclamation. She continues to look forward and is a symbol of the past, present and future of the country. At the top of the inner circle, the inscription ‘HIBERNIA’ appears in hand‑rendered lettering that takes influence from the historic Book of Kells. The sunrays reflect well the underlying concept of the Rising and the Proclamation, e.g. the dawning of the new nation/republic. The image of the statue is flanked by the years ‘1916’ and ‘2016’. At the bottom of the inner circle appears the name of the issuing country ‘éire’ and, underneath it, the year of issuance ‘2016’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.
Issuing volume: 4.5 million coins
Issuing date: January 2016