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27.7.2012 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
201/135
REGULATION (EU) No 651/2012 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 4 July 2012
on the issuance of euro coins
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE
(3) In
accordance
with
Council
Regulation
(EC)
No
974/98
EUROPEAN UNION,
of 3 May 1998 on the introduction of the euro ( 5 ), coins
denominated in euro and cent and complying with the
denominations and technical specifications laid down by
the Council have the status of legal tender in all Member
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European
States whose currency is the euro. Denominations and
Union, and in particular Article 133 thereof,
technical specifications of euro coins are laid down in
Council Regulation (EC) No 975/98 of 3 May 1998 on
denominations and technical specifications of euro coins
intended for circulation ( 6 ).
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
(4)
Member States whose currency is the euro should also be
After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national
able to issue 2-euro commemorative coins to celebrate
parliaments,
specific subjects, subject to limits set per year and per
issuing Member State for the number of issues of such
coins. It is necessary to establish certain volume limits for
commemorative euro coins in order to ensure that such
Having regard to the Opinion of the European Central Bank ( 1 ),
coins remain a minor percentage of the total number of
the 2-euro coins in circulation. Such volume limits
should, however, allow for the issuance of a sufficient
Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (
volume of coins to ensure that commemorative euro

2 ),
coins can circulate effectively.
Whereas:
(5)
Member States whose currency is the euro should also be
able to issue euro collector coins, which are not intended
for circulation and which should be readily distin
(1) The
Council
conclusions
of
23
November
1998
and
of
guishable from circulation coins. Euro collector coins
5 November 2002 on euro coins intended for collection,
should have the status of legal tender only in the
the Commission Recommendation 2009/23/EC of
Member State of issuance and should not be issued
19 December 2008 on common guidelines for the
with a view to their entry into circulation.
national sides and the issuance of euro coins intended
for circulation ( 3 ), endorsed by Council conclusions of
10 February 2009, and the Commission Recommen
dation 2010/191/EU of 22 March 2010 on the scope
(6) It
is
appropriate
that
issuances
of
euro
collector
coins
are
and effects of legal tender of euro banknotes and
accounted for in the volume of coins to be approved by
coins (
the European Central Bank, but on an aggregate basis

4 ), recommend practices regarding the issuance of
euro coins intended for circulation, including commem
rather than for each individual issue.
orative euro coins, consultation prior to the destruction
of fit euro circulation coins and the use of euro collector
coins.
(7)
The use of different denominations of euro coins and
euro banknotes, as currently devised, should be period
ically and carefully examined by the competent insti
tutions against the criteria of cost and public accepta
(2)
The lack of mandatory provisions for the issuance of
euro coins may result in different practices among
bility. In particular, the Commission should conduct an
Member States and does not achieve a sufficiently inte
impact assessment on the continued issuance of 1- and
grated framework for the single currency. In the interests
2-cent coins.
of transparency and legal certainty, it is therefore
necessary to introduce binding rules for the issuance of
euro coins.
(8) In
order
to
avoid
that
fit
euro
circulation
coins
are
destroyed by one Member State while there may be a
( 1 ) OJ C 273, 16.9.2011, p. 2.
need of such coins in another, Member States should
( 2 ) Position of the European Parliament of 22 May 2012 (not yet
consult each other prior to the destruction of such coins,
published in the Official Journal) and decision of the Council of
26 June 2012.
( 3 ) OJ L 9, 14.1.2009, p. 52.
( 5 ) OJ L 139, 11.5.1998, p. 1.
( 4 ) OJ L 83, 30.3.2010, p. 70.
( 6 ) OJ L 139, 11.5.1998, p. 6.

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L 201/136
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
27.7.2012
HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
(b) a commemorative coin is issued on the occasion of a
temporary vacancy or a provisional occupation of the
function of Head of State.
Article 1
Definitions
2. The
total
number
of
commemorative
coins
put
into
circu
For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions
lation for each individual issue shall not exceed the higher of
shall apply:
the following two ceilings:
(1) ‘circulation coins’ means euro coins intended for circulation,
the denominations and technical specifications of which are
(a) 0,1 % of the cumulated total net number of 2-euro coins
laid down in Regulation (EC) No 975/98;
put into circulation by all Member States whose currency is
the euro up to the beginning of the year preceding the year
of issuance of the commemorative coin; this ceiling may be
(2) ‘commemorative coins’ means circulation coins, which are
raised to 2,0 % of the cumulated total net number of 2-euro
intended to commemorate a specific subject as specified in
coins of all Member States whose currency is the euro if a
Article 1h of Regulation (EC) No 975/98;
widely recognised and highly symbolic subject is commem
orated, in which case the issuing Member State shall refrain
from launching another commemorative coin issue using
the raised ceiling during the subsequent four years and
(3) ‘collector coins’ means euro coins intended for collection
shall set out the reasons for choosing the raised ceiling; or
that are not issued with a view to their entry into circu
lation.
(b) 5,0 % of the cumulated total net number of 2-euro coins
Article 2
put into circulation by the Member State concerned up to
the beginning of the year preceding the year of issuance of
Types of euro coin
the commemorative coin.
1. Member
States
may
issue
two
types
of
euro
coin:
circu
lation coins and collector coins.
3. The
decision
whether
to
issue
commemorative
coins
with
a common design collectively issued by all Member States
2. The
Commission
shall
conduct
an
impact
assessment
on whose currency is the euro shall be taken by the Council.
the continued issuance of 1- and 2-cent coins. That impact
The voting rights of the Member States whose currency is not
assessment shall include a cost-benefit analysis which takes
the euro shall be suspended for the adoption of that decision.
into account the real production costs of those coins set
against their value and benefits.
Article 5
Article 3
Issuance of collector coins
Issuance of circulation coins
1. Collector
coins
shall
have
the
status
of
legal
tender
only
in
1. Circulation
coins
shall
be
issued
and
put
into
circulation the issuing Member State.
at face value.
The identity of the issuing Member State shall be clearly and
2. A
minor
proportion,
not
exceeding
5
%
of
the
cumulated easily recognisable on the coin.
total net value and volume of circulation coins issued by a
Member State, taking into account only years with positive
net issuance, may be put on the market above face value if
justified by the special quality of the coin, a special packaging
2. In
order
to
be
easily
differentiated
from
circulation
coins,
or any additional services provided.
collector coins shall meet all of the following criteria:
Article 4
(a) their face value must be different from the face values of
Issuance of commemorative coins
circulation coins;
1. Each Member State whose currency is the euro may only
issue two commemorative coins per year, save where:
(b) their images must not be similar to the common sides of
circulation coins, and if their images are similar to any
(a) commemorative coins are collectively issued by all Member
national side of circulation coins, their overall appearance
States whose currency is the euro; or
can still be easily differentiated;

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EN
27.7.2012 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
201/137
(c) their colour, diameter and weight must differ significantly
Article 6
from circulation coins for at least two of these three char
acteristics; the difference shall be regarded as significant if
Consultation prior to the destruction of circulation coins
the values including tolerances are outside the tolerance
Prior to the destruction of circulation coins which are not euro
ranges fixed for circulation coins; and
coins unfit for circulation within the meaning of point (b) of
Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 1210/2010 of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 2010
(d) they must not have a shaped edge with fine scallops or a
concerning authentication of euro coins and handling of euro
‘Spanish flower’ shape.
coins unfit for circulation ( 1 ), Member States shall consult each
other via the relevant subcommittee of the Economic and
3. Collector
coins
may
be
put
on
the
market
at
or
above
face Financial Committee and inform the mint directors of the
value.
Member States whose currency is the euro.
4. The
issuances
of
collector
coins
shall
be
accounted
for
on
an aggregated basis in the volume of coin issuance to be
Article 7
approved by the European Central Bank.
Entry into force
This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day
5. Member
States
shall
take
all
appropriate
measures
to following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the
discourage the use of collector coins as a means of payment.
European Union.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in the Member States in
accordance with the Treaties.
Done at Strasbourg, 4 July 2012.
For the European Parliament
For the Council
The President
The President
M. SCHULZ
A. D. MAVROYIANNIS
( 1 ) OJ L 339, 22.12.2010, p. 1.

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