Details of the euro coins
The national bank of the Netherlands distributed a special euro starterpack to every Dutch resident a month prior to it's official release. In addition to genuine copies of each coin, the starterpack provides the following specifications:
- 1 cent: diameter 16.26 mm, color: reddish, characteristic: smooth
- 2 cents: diameter 18.72 mm, color: reddish, characteristic: smooth with carved edge
- 5 cents: diameter 21.75 mm, color: reddish, characteristic: smooth
- 10 cents: diameter 19.75 mm, color: yellowish, characteristic: wide ribbed
- 20 cents: diameter 22.25 mm, color: yellowish, characteristic: smooth with spaced cuts
- 50 cents: diameter 24.25 mm, color: yellowish, characteristic: wide ribbed
- 1 euro: diameter 23.25 mm, color: grey with yellow rim, characteristic: ribbed with interruptions
- 2 euro: diameter 25.75 mm, color: yellow with grey rim, characteristic: fine ribs with inscription
Inscriptions
The two euro coin has an inscription on the side . The text is different for each country.
Country: Austria
Inscription: "2 EURO *** 2 EURO *** 2 EURO *** 2 EURO ***"
Translation: N/A
Remarks: The stars are alternately flipped set-wise
Country: Belgium
Inscription: "* * * * * * * * * * * *"
Translation: N/A
Remarks: One of two variations for countries with no national inscription.
Country: Finland
Inscription: "Suomi - Finland"
Translation: 'Suomi' is Finnish for 'Finland'
Remarks: The same inscription as on the old 5 Mark piece.
Country: France
Inscription: "* * * * * * * * * * * *"
Translation: N/A
Remarks: A somewhat surpising, and equally dull, choice by the French. One would have expected "Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité" (Liberty, Equality, Brotherhood') as on the Franc. One of two variations for countries with no national inscription.
Country: Germany
Inscription: "Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit"
Translation: "Unity and Righteousness and Liberty"
Remarks: This inscription appeared on the two and five piece Deutschmarks.
Country: Greece
Inscription: "ELLINIKI DIMOKRATIA"
Translation: "Greek Democracy"
Country: Ireland
Inscription: "...2 * * 2 * * 2 * * 2..."
Translation: N/A
Remarks: The 2's are alternately flipped vertically. One of two variations for countries with no national inscription.
Country: Italy
Inscription: "...2 * * 2 * * 2 * * 2..."
Translation: N/A
Remarks: The 2's are alternately flipped vertically. One of two variations for countries with no national inscription.
Country: Monaco
Inscription: "** ** ** ** ** **"
Translation: N/A
Remarks: The pairs of stars are alternately upside down and right side up.
Country: The Netherlands
Inscription: "God zij met ons"
Translation: "God be with us"
Remarks: The same inscription as on the replaced Gulden.
Country: Portugal
Inscription: Five small pictures of identical castles , each with three towers, followed by five windows with an oval top, followed by another five castles. The last series of castles is inverted. To give a (very vague) impression, it looks like this: "E E E E E D D D D D ∃ ∃ ∃ ∃ ∃"
Translation: N/A
Remarks: The towers and oval windows also appear on the side of the coin itself.The ones on the rim are a bit smaller and more simplistic, for obvious reasons.
Country: Spain
Inscription: "* * * * * * * * * * * *"
Translation: N/A
Remarks: One of two variations for countries with no national inscription. See the French inscription.
I want to collect all euro inscriptions here. If you know anymore, please /msg irexe. Still missing: Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, San Marino, Andorra, and the Vatican.