Description : To mark the tenth anniversary of the final adoption of the euro
as cash, all 17 EU countries using the euro as their official currency issued a commemorative € 2 coin.
There were five designs submitted, which could be voted for online. The result was announed on the 30th of June 2011:
the winning design was created by Helmut Andexlinger and shows a globe in the middle, overlaid with the euro symbol.
The importance of the euro in Europe and the world as a whole coupled with the fact that it has become a global player in
the international monetary system over the last ten years, is illustrated by the euro symbol. According to the designer,
the symbolic elements around the stylised globe represent the suggestion that the euro offers more opportunities for
businesses and markets which in turn ensures economic stability by encouraging investment in this environment. The factory
shape symbolises production, the cargo ship trade, all of which benefit the symbolic family of four with three homes by
providing more quality jobs and stable consumer prices. The symbol of the Eurotower in Frankfurt/M. represents
financial strength and the two wind turbines shows stimulation in innovative investments that this environment presents,
whose central element is the euro. At the bottom of the coin are the years "2002 and "2012".
National characteristics : At the top of the coin is the name of the issuing country "LËTZEBUERG" (Luxembourg).
The logo of mint master Maarten Brouwer, the sails of the three‐masted clipper Nederland, and a staff of
Hermes the mint mark of the Dutch mint Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt in Utrecht are depicted on the right between the
symbols of homes and family. Above the € symbol in the centre is the portrait of Grand Duke Henri designed by Alain
Hoffmann as a latent image, since according to Luxembourg law no national coin may be issued without the portrait of the
head of state (or at least not without his monogram). |
