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Níl an t-ábhar seo ar fáil i nGaeilge.

€2 commemorative coins - 2020

The descriptions on this page are based on the information in the Official Journal of the European Union and may therefore deviate slightly from other material published on this website.

Luxembourg

Feature: The birth of Prince Charles

Description: The design depicts at the centre the representation of Prince Charles as well as the effigies of his parents, Their Royal Highnesses the Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and the Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie. Below these effigies, the text ‘S.A.R. de Prënz Charles’ (His Royal Highness the Prince Charles) is followed by the date of birth ‘10 May 2020’. At the left, the word ‘LËTZEBUERG’ as the designation of the issuing country is depicted vertically. The monogram (letter ‘H’ with a crown) is a representation of the Grand Duke Henri. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 500 000 coins

Issuing date: December 2020

Portugal

Feature: 730th anniversary of the University of Coimbra

Description: The design depicts the tower of University of Coimbra and a visual composition of triangles representing the roofs of the university of Coimbra, the highest is of the Joanina Library within the lettering ‘UNIVERSIDADE DE COIMBRA 730 ANOS PORTUGAL 2020’ (English – UNIVERSITY OF COIMBRA 730 YEARS PORTUGAL 2020). The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 360 000 coins

Issuing date: November 2020

Slovakia

Feature: 20th anniversary of Slovakia’s accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

Description: The upper right half of the national side design depicts a representation of the concept of digital humanism: printed circuits in the shape of a human brain, in the centre of which is a circle representing a microprocessor. The Slovak coat of arms is placed next to the lower right edge. Inscribed inside a square outline that partly overlaps the main image are the words ‘20. VÝROČIE’ and ‘VSTUP SR DO OECD’ (the 20th anniversary of Slovakia’s accession to the OECD). Below the square is the name of the issuing country ‘SLOVENSKO’ and the year of issuance ‘2020’, one above the other. Between the square and the left edge of the design is the mint mark of the Kremnica Mint (Mincovňa Kremnica), consisting of the letters ‘MK’ placed between two dies. Below the mint mark are the stylised letters ‘PV’ referring to the designer Peter Valach. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 1 million coins

Issuing date: November 2020

Cyprus

Feature: The 30th anniversary of the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and genetics

Description: The design depicts a ‘neuron with its synapses’ in reference to the activities performed by the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, which celebrates 30 years of existence. The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics receives international recognition and plays an active and essential role as a national, regional and international centre of excellence for the provision opf high quality services, innovative reasearch and postgraduate education. The iossuing country’s name ‘KYΠΡΟΣ - KIBRIS’ and the phrase ‘ΙΝΣΤΙTOYΤΟ ΝΕΥΡΟΛΟΓΊΑΣ & ΓΕΝΕΤΙKHΣ KYΠΡΟY 1990-2020’ (i.e. Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics 1990-2020) are inscribed in circle around the design. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 412 000 coins

Issuing date: 4th quarter 2020

Lithuania

Feature: UNESCO Cultural Heritage - Kryžių Kalnas (the Hill of Crosses)

Description: The design depicts the Hill of Crosses: fragments of wooden and forged crosses, symbolising Lithuanian cross-crafting and folk culture. Cross-crafting and cross-symbolism in Lithuania are included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The inscriptions featured are: Lithuania’s name ‘LIETUVA’, the year of issue ‘2020’ on the top, ‘KRYŽIŲ KALNAS’ (the Hill of Crosses) and the mark of the Lithuanian Mint at the bottom. The design is realised by Rytas Jonas Belevičius. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 500 000 coins

Issuing date: 4th quarter 2020

Finland

Feature: Väinö Linna 100 years

Description: The coin celebrates the well-known late Finnish writer Väinö Linna. This year marks the centenary of his birth in 1920. The design reflects Linna’s work in a textile mill and depicts, in addition to his face, letters as weaved fabric and threads that run through his books. The inscription VÄINÖ LINNA is at the left side. At the bottom are the inscriptions of the year of issuance ‘2020’, of the issuing country ‘FI’ and the mintmark. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 800 000 coins

Issuing date: September-December 2020

Malta

Feature: Children’s games

Description: The design depicts a melange of traditional games popular with Maltese children. These include marbles, spinning tops and traditional kite-making and flying. Depicted is also a Maltese version of hop-scotch which is known locally as ‘passju’. Three bees flying in a circle allude to a popular chant sung by Maltese children during play. Included in the design is the name of the issuing country, ‘Malta’, and the year of issue, ‘2020’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 220 000 coins

Issuing date: October 2020

Germany

Feature: The 50th anniversary of Willy Brandt’s Kniefall von Warschau

Description: The design shows Brandt, who was the chancellor of Germany at that time, keeling before the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes in Warsaw in a gesture of humility. Yhe Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943 is evoked by the composition’s powerful imagery. Traced in extremely fine relief, the design pictures compelling symbols: a seven-branched menorah, the ghetto victims, as well as the genuflection. The inner part of the coin also features the artist’s initials (top), the mint mark of the respective mint (‘A’, ‘D’, ‘F’, ‘G’ or ‘J’), the year, ‘2020’ (centre left), Germany’s issuing country code, ‘D’ (bottom right), and the lettering ‘50 JAHRE KNIEFALL VON WARSCHAU’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 30 millions coins

Issuing date: October 2020

France

Feature: Medical Research

Description: The design shows the figuration of the human in union, represented by a face inscribed in a sphere. It faces the infinitely small, represented by fragments of DNA inscribed in a circle. By its oblique axis, this allegory represents the research and its intelligence dominating the infinitely small, studying it and triumphing over the diseases. The indication of the issuing country ‘RF’ is located at the top right while the mintmark and the year of issuance ‘2020’ are located at the bottom left. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 300 000 coins

Issuing date: October 2020

Vatican

Feature: 500th Anniversary of the death of Raphael Sanzio

Description: The design features a portrait of Raphael and two angels. At the right, in semi-circle, is the inscription ‘RAFFAELLO SANZIO’. Above the image of the two angels are the years ‘1520’ and ‘2020’ and underneath it is the name of the issuing country ‘CITTA’ DEL VATICANO’. At the bottom is the mintmark ‘R’ and the artist’s name ‘D. LONGO’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 101 000 coins

Issuing date: October 2020

San Marino

Feature: 250th anniversary of the death of Giambattista Tiepolo

Description: The left part of the coin features the bust of an angel, a detail from Tiepolo’s painting ‘Angel Succouring Hagar’, which hangs in the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, Venice, and the initials of the designer Claudia Momoni ‘C.M.’. Above is the inscription ‘TIEPOLO’ and the letter ‘R’ identifying the Mint of Rome; on the right are the dates 1770 and 2020 and the inscription ‘San Marino’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 54 000 coins

Issuing date: August-September 2020

Finland

Feature: Universities and society – University of Turku 100 years

Description: The grid-like design represents the interaction between universities and the society. At the top of the design, there is the year of issuance ‘2020’, at the right side the mintmark and underneath the mintmark is the indication of the issuing country ‘FI’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 800 000 coins

Issuing date: Spring/Summer 2020

Andorra

Feature: 50 years of Universal Female Suffrage

Description: The design of the coin shows a female face inside a wrapper of endless moving lines. These lines are formed by female names in Catalan language close together, making it difficult to read them individually, as a tribute to solidarity of women in the fight for their rights. The inscriptions ‘50 ANYS DEL SUFRAGI UNIVERSAL FEMENÍ’ (50 years of Universal Female Suffrage) and ‘ANDORRA 1970 - 2020’ complete the design. These inscriptions are also incorporated into the movement of the lines in a way, in order to give more importance to the anniversary that is being commemorated. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 60 000 coins

Issuing date: 2nd half 2020

Slovenia

Feature: The 500th anniversary of the birth of Adam Bohorič

Description: The design has at its core a multilingual slogan from the cover of Bohorič’s Latin – Slovenian grammar titled “Proste zimske urice”. The slogan in Slovenian, written in bohoričica (the type of writing named after Adam Bohorič), which is easily recognizable due to the use of a typical letter f, is positioned in the lower half of the coin’s core. Behind is the Slovenian slogan in Latin – presenting Bohorič’s contribution to the international academic sphere. At the top of the design, in semi-circle, is the inscription ‘ADAM BOHORIČ1520 / SLOVENIJA 2020’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 1 000 000 coins

Issuing date: 2nd half 2020

Latvia

Feature: Latgalian ceramics

Description: The coin is dedicated to the Latgalian pottery. The traditional pottery established itself for substantial periods of time in two districts, Latgale and Kurzeme, but only in Latgale it has survived throughout the times and passed over to the next generations. The Latgalian pottery is included also in the Latvian Culture Canon. The design depicts a characteristic piece of Latgalian ceramics – a clay candelabrum. It bears an inscription ‘LATGALES KERAMIKA’ (Latgalian ceramics), the country name ‘LATVIJA’ as well as the year of issuance ‘2020’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 412 000 coins

Issuing date: 2nd quarter 2020

France

Feature: Charles de Gaulle

Description: The design represents two profiles of Charles de Gaulle at two different times. The profile in the background shows Charles de Gaulle in army general is uniform during the call to arms of the 18th June 1940 or during the liberation of Paris. The profile in the foreground represents Charles de Gaulle during his second presidential term of office. Finally, the mention RF is semi-integrated in a Lorraine cross, symbol of free France chosen by General de Gaulle in 1940. His dates of birth and death as well as the year date are also inscribed in the Lorraine cross. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 18 061 940 coins

Issuing date: June 2020

Andorra

Feature: The 27th Ibero-American Summit in Andorra

Description: The 27th Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government will be held in the Principality of Andorra in 2020. Andorra, the newest and smallest member of the Ibero-American Conference, will host this meeting of the highest political level, which comprises 19 Latin American countries together with Spain, Portugal and Andorra, in order to work towards common goals such as Sustainable Development. The design of the coin shows a tree made up by human silhouettes and tine wheels. The human silhouettes symbolize the integration of society, culture and education for the realization of a sustainable future. The tine wheels symbolize the synergy of movement between the ideas and proposals of participants to this Summit. Next to the tree, there is the logo of this 27th Summit. On its upper side, three triangles represent the colours of the Andorran flag. On its lower side, six triangles represent Andorra’s opening towards Sustainable Development Goals. Around the design, there is the inscription ‘XXVII CIMERA IBEROAMERICANA ANDORRA 2020’ (27th Ibero-American Summit Andorra 2020). The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 73 500 coins

Issuing date: June 2020

Monaco

Feature: The 300th anniversary of the birth of Prince Honoré III

Description: The design shows the effigy of Prince Honoré III. At the left is the inscription ‘HONORÉ III’ and at the right the name of the issuing country ‘MONACO’. At the bottom, in semi-circle, is the inscription ‘1720 – Naissance – 2020’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 15 000 coins

Issuing date: June 2020

Italy

Feature: 150th anniversary of the birth of Maria Montessori

Description: A portrait of Maria Montessori in a geometric composition with some of didactic elements drawn from her educational system. In the right field, ‘RI’, acronym of the Italian Republic; on the left, ‘R’ ,identifying the Mint of Rome; on the right, ‘LDS’, initials of the designer Luciana De Simoni; at the top and bottom, the dates ‘1870’ e ‘2020’, the year of birth of the Italian pedagogue and that of coin’s issue, respectively; around the portrait, the inscription ‘MARIA MONTESSORI’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 3 000 000 coins

Issuing date: June 2020

Greece

Feature: 100 years since the union of Thrace with Greece

Description: The design replicates an ancient coin of the Thracian city of Abdera, featuring a griffin. Inscribed along the inner edge are the words ‘100 YEARS SINCE THE UNION OF THRACE WITH GREECE’ and ‘HELLENIC REPUBLIC’, as well as the year of issuance ‘2020’ and a palmette (the mintmark of the Greek mint). Also visible at left is the monogram of the artist (George Stamatopoulos). The region of Thrace, located in the northeastern corner of the country, was united with Greece after the end of World War I. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 750 000 coins

Issuing date: May 2020

Belgium

Feature: Jan van Eyck

Description: The inner part of the piece depicts the portrait of the famous Flemish artist Jan van Eyck, together with his signature and a painter’s palette that also contains the initials LL, referring to the designer of the coin, Mr Luc Luycx and two paintbrushes. Above this, you can find the name J. van Eyck. As the Royal Dutch Mint will strike the coins, the mintmark of Utrecht, a mercury staff is located on the bottom together with the Belgian mint director mintmark, the coat of arms of the municipality Herzele. The country code BE and the year mark 2020 is located on the right. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 155 000 coins

Issuing date: May 2020

Portugal

Feature: 75th anniversary of the United Nations

Description: The design depicts the UN logo. At the top is the year of issuance ‘2020’, the name of the issuing country ‘PORTUGAL’ and the inscription ‘UN 75 YEARS’. Under the words ‘UN’ and ‘YEARS’ is their translation in Portuguese ‘ONU’ and ‘ANOS’. At the left side is the name of the mint ‘CASA DA MOEDA’ and at the right side is the engraver’s name ‘ANDRÉ LETRIA’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 510 000 coins

Issuing date: May 2020

Malta

Feature: Unesco World Heritage Site – pre-historic temples of Skorba

Description: The design features Skorba, a prehistoric temple located near the hamlet of Zebbiegh, in the northwest of Malta. The complex consists of two temples built side by side. These were built on a much older settlement remains of which were discovered outside the temple complex. Skorba lacks the monumentality of the other temples on the Maltese islands. Nevertheless, the site is of utmost importance having enabled archaeologists to set Malta’s prehistoric cultural sequence and establish that the islands were first inhabited at around 5 000 BC. The inscription ‘SKORBA TEMPLES 3600-2500 BC’ appears at the top of the design. At the bottom are the name of the issuing country ‘MALTA’ and the year of issuance ‘2020’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 170 000 coins

Issuing date: May 2020

Vatican

Feature: 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Pope John Paul II

Description: The design features Pope John Paul II, the home where He was born and the Basilica near His home in Wadowice, Poland. At the top left, in semi-circle is the inscription ‘PAPA GIOVANNI PAOLO II’. At the right are the years ‘1920 2020’, and the mintmark ‘R’. At the bottom, in semi-circle, is the name of the issuing country ‘CITTA’ DEL VATICANO’. Under the image of the Basilica are the artist’s name ‘G. TITOTTO’ and the engraver’s initials ‘M.A.C. INC’ (Maria Angela Cassol, engraver). The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 101 000 coins

Issuing date: May 2020

San Marino

Feature: 500th anniversary of the death of Raphael

Description: The design reproduces the profile of the Virgin Mary, which is part of the Madonna di Casa Santi fresco, the first masterpiece by a very young Raphael painted in the family home in Urbino, which now houses the prestigious Accademia Raffaello. The fresco depicts the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus on her lap and is imbued with the delicacy of the intimacy between mother and son, a recurring theme in Raphael’s artistic works. In the top right of the coin, there is the name of the issuing country ‘SAN MARINO’ and the years ‘1520’ and ‘2020’. At the bottom is the inscription ‘RAFFAELLO’, on the right the initials of the designer Annalisa Masini ‘AM’, and on the left the letter ‘R’, indicating the Mint of Rome. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 54 000 coins

Issuing date: March 2020

Lithuania

Feature: Aukštaitija (from the series Lithuanian Etnographic Regions)

Description: The design features a coat of arms with an armour-clad knight holding a sword in his right hand. The coat of arms is held by two angels, simbolically exalting and protecting Aukštaitija – one of the most important regions of Lithuania and the cradle of its statehood. Below is a Latin inscription PATRIAM TUAM MUNDUM EXISTIMA (CONSIDER YOUR HOMELAND TO BE THE WHOLE WORLD). The design is surrounded by inscriptions: ‘LIETUVA’ (the name of the issuing country), ‘AUKŠTAITIJA’, the year of issuance ‘2020’ and the mintmark of the Lithuanian Mint. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 500 000 coins

Issuing date: March 2020

Estonia

Feature: The bicentenary of the discovery of Antarctica

Description: The discovery is linked to Estonia because one of the first men to see Antarctica in 1820 was Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen, a Baltic German seafarer born in Saaremaa, who documented the discovery. The design depicts a motif of a sailing ship. It also bear the inscriptions ‘Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen’ and ‘ANTARKTIKA 200’, the country name ‘EESTI’ and the year of issuance ‘2020’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 750 000 coins

Issuing date: March 2020

Spain

Feature: UNESCO’s World Cultural and Natural Heritage Sites – Aragón and the Aragonese Mudejar architecture

Description: The design shows the image of the tower of El Salvador de Teruel. On the left side in capital letters is the word ‘ESPAÑA’ and on the right side the mintmark and underneath it the year of issuance 2020. At the top in the central part, in a circular sense and in capital letters the legend ‘ARQUITECTURA MUDEJAR DE ARAGÓN’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 4 000 000 coins

Issuing date: February 2020

Germany

Feature: Brandenburg (the Bundesländer series)

Description: The design shows the Sanssouci Palace. The upper half of the coin’s inner section includes the mint mark of the respective mint (‘A’, ‘D’, ‘F’, ‘G’ or ‘J’), the artist’s initials and the year ‘2020’. The lower half of the coin’s inner section contains the inscription ‘BRANDENBURG’ and Germany’s issuing country code ‘D’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 30 000 000 coins

Issuing date: February 2020

Belgium

Feature: International Year of Plant Health 2020 (IYPH 2020)

Description: The inner part of the piece depicts the official logo of the IYPH 2020 that symbolises leaves and the text ‘International year of plant health’. The leaves represent healthy plants as the source of the oxygen we breathe, the food we eat and all life on earth. This positive image of leaves protected from deadly pests and diseases forms a circle, which represents the world and underlines how plant health and protection is a global issue. Plant health is the key to ending hunger, reducing poverty, protecting the environment and boosting economic development. As the Royal Dutch Mint will strike the coins, the mintmark of Utrecht, a mercury staff is located on the right. The Belgian mint director mintmark, the coat of arms of the municipality Herzele is located on the left. The country code BE and the year mark 2020 are located on the bottom. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 755 000 coins

Issuing date: February 2020

Estonia

Feature: The centenary of the Tartu Peace Treaty

Description: The treaty was signed between Estonia and Soviet Russia on 2 February 1920, and it fixed the Eastern border of Estonia, bringing an end to the War of Independence. The design depicts a tree with branches disguising the words TARTU RAHU (Tartu Peace Treaty). It also bears the country name ‘EESTI’ and the date of issue ‘2 February 2020’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 1 000 000 coins

Issuing date: February 2020

Italy

Feature: The 80th Anniversary of Foundation of ‘Corpo Nazionale dei Vigili del Fuoco’ (National Fire Department)

Description: The design shows, in the center, the logo of the National Fire Department. On the left, ‘RI’, acronym of the Italian Republic; on the right, the year of the coin’s issue ‘2020’; ‘R’, identifying the Mint of Rome; below, ‘LDS’, initials of the designer Luciana De Simoni; above, arch-shaped inscription ‘CORPO NAZIONALE DEI VIGILI DEL FUOCO’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 3 000 000 coins

Issuing date: January 2020

Luxembourg

Feature: The 200th anniversary of the birth of Prince Henri

Description: The design shows on the right hand the effigy of His Royal Highness, the Grand Duke Henri, and on the left hand the effigy of Prince Henri. At the bottom is the name of the issuing country ‘LUXEMBOURG’ and the year-date ‘2020’. At the left, in semi-circle form, is the inscription ‘Prince Henri d’Orange-Nassau’ and underneath his effigy is the inscription ‘1820 – 1879’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 500 000 coins

Issuing date: January 2020

Greece

Feature: 2 500 years since the Battle of Thermopylae

Description: The design depicts an ancient Greek helmet. Inscribed along the inner edge are the words ‘2500 YEARS SINCE THE BATTLE OF THERMOPYLAE’ and ‘HELLENIC REPUBLIC’. Also inscribed in the background are the year of issuance ‘2020’ and a palmette (the mintmark of the Greek mint). Visible down and right of the helmet is the monogram of the artist (George Stamatopoulos). Although ending in defeat for the Greeks, the Battle of Thermopylae remains a timeless symbol of heroic resistance. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European flag.

Issuing volume: 750 000 coins

Issuing date: January 2020