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The euro (EUR or €) is the currency of 12 European Union (EU) member states (Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain), three European microstates which have currency agreements with the EU (Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican City State), Andorra, Montenegro and the Kosovo province of Serbia.

Euro coins and banknotes (see Euro banknotes) came into circulation on January 1, 2002.

One euro is divided into 100 cents and there are eight different denominations.

Normal issues

All coins have a common reverse side showing how much the coin is worth, with a design by Belgian designer Luc Luyckx. The design of the 1-, 2-, and 5-cent coins symbolises Europe's place in the world as a whole. The image on the 10-, 20-, and 50-cent coins shows the EU member states coming together (note that the EU members who are at this time not part of the euro are also depicted). Finally, the 1- and 2-euro coins depict a Europe without frontiers. All coins feature 12 stars in their design.

The year featured in the coins can date back to 1999, when the currency was formally established (only on French, Spanish, Belgian, Finnish and Dutch coins). These countries traditionally put on the coin the year when it was minted rather than the year in which it was put into circulation.

Depiction of euro coinage - reverse side / common side

Each country participating in the euro has its own design on the national side of the coin. These designs vary from simply depicting the same design on all coins (e.g. Belgium) to a different design for every coin (e.g. Italy). However, all coins again feature 12 stars in some way or another on this side as well. In nations that are monarchies, the national side usually features a portrait of the country's monarch, often in a design carried over from the former currency. Non-monarchical countries often feature more stylised graphics of things such as national monuments or symbols.

Though they are not members of the EU, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City (but not Andorra) also have euro coins featuring a national side, but these only occasionally end up in general circulation as their scarcity leads to greater interest from coin collectors.

The coins from Monaco feature the royal family's coat of arms and seal and the portrait of the late ruler, Prince Rainier III. Future coins will presumably feature the current ruler, Prince Albert II.

Those from San Marino have various towers and public buildings from the small nation on them as well as the national coat of arms. The Vatican coins until 2005 presented the portrait of the late Pope John Paul II. Still in 2005 a Sede Vacante set was issued, and from 2006 on coins will feature Pope Benedict XVI. Having coins with the effigy of a religious leader accepted as legal tender caused some controversy in certain countries such as France.

Read more at Wikipedia.org