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New French €2 coin issued as euro marks its 20th birthday
The new design incorporates a series of symbols in celebration of French values and strength
A new €2 coin is to come into circulation in France from January 1 to celebrate 20 years of the common currency and the French presidency of the European Union council.
New 2 Euro coin especially updated for the French Presidency of the Council of the EU (FPCEU)
— Rym Momtaz ريم ممتاز (@RymMomtaz) December 9, 2021
Will be on the market as of January 2022 pic.twitter.com/Wb2BIMhiIg
The coin will be minted in, and unique to, France (other EU countries have their own two-euro coin designs) but it will still be valid currency across the entire Eurozone.
A total of 30 million of the new coins will enter circulation after being minted. This is the first time that a new two-euro coin design has entered circulation [in France] since the euro came into force on January 1, 2002.
Other two-euro coins have been issued, however these were commemorative coins and were not considered to be [actively participating] in circulation despite being used.
The new coin is still a two-colour piece, with copper and silver, but has a new design.
New design elements comprise:
- The French motto, Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité
- Leaves: Representing diversity and national unity
- Oak and olive branches: Symbols of the Republic. Oak - Sign of strength and solidity. Olive - Symbol of peace, reaching out towards the European stars around the edge of the coin, to symbolise peace and spreading these values across the EU
- Stars of the European Union around the edge
- Rising hexagons in the background: A symbol of the rise of France
- Trio of lines in the middle: Representing strength, historic and constitutional roots
- Year of minting (2022)
- A cornucopia of abundance: The stamp of the Paris Mint
- The stamp of the Chief Engraver at the Paris Mint, Joaquin Jimenez
- RF: Initials of the French Republic
- Signature of the designer
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