Numismatics, or the study and collection of ancient and modern coins, is a fascinating hobby that attracts enthusiasts from all over the world. This discipline allows you to immerse yourself in a journey through the history, culture and economy of different eras and civilizations.
Coins, in fact, are not simple pieces of metal, but real “books” that tell fascinating stories. Each coin brings with it valuable information about the rulers, events and traditions of the period in which it was minted. Studying its characteristics, such as design, symbols and inscriptions, allows us to discover fascinating aspects of the past.
This is how commemorative 2 euro coins are made
Throughout the history of the euro, from 2002 to today, countless 2 euro coins have been minted with the aim of commemorating events or prominent historical figures who have left a mark on the history of Europe. Thus, each nation was able to celebrate in its own way, following only very specific rules in the issuing of these coins.
First of all, each member state of the European Union has the right to issue a maximum of 2 commemorative 2 euro coins per year, which must celebrate events or personalities of national, European or global importance. Topics of a commercial, political or religious nature are excluded. This limitation ensures that the market is not flooded with too many issues.
There is unanimity on the design: on the obverse, i.e. on the face, of the commemorative 2 euro coins, the standard design of the euro remains, with the face value, the year of issue and the name of the issuing country; while on the reverse, i.e. the back, of the coin the commemorative design is shown, which must be clearly distinguishable from the standard image.
Furthermore, issues must be approved in advance by the European Commission to ensure compliance with the rules, with a limit also on the maximum quantity of coins circulated by each member state, which cannot exceed 5-10% of total annual production.
Here’s the one that’s worth the most
The 2 euro coins for the 10th anniversary of the euro were issued in 2009 by all eurozone countries to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the introduction of the euro as the single European currency. These coins feature a common design with the portrait of Erasmus of Rotterdam and the 10 years of the euro.
The 2 euro coin featuring Erasmus of Rotterdam, issued in 2009 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the euro, has a face value of 2 euros. However, precisely because it embodies an important historical event, namely the 10th anniversary of the euro, this coin had a limited edition, which makes it attractive for collectors. If it has some particularities or if it is a FdC, then it can be worth even a hundred euros.
In general, the numismatic value of a 2 euro coin with Erasmus of Rotterdam in good condition is around 2-3 euros
Let’s see its design in detail
On the reverse side there is a portrait of Erasmus of Rotterdam, one of the founding fathers of European humanism. The portrait is surrounded by the 12 stars of the European flag and the writing “ERASMVS ROTTERDAM”; on the obverse side, however, a map is depicted, surmounted by the number “10” and the writing “ANNI EURO”, stylized as Europe with the borders of the eurozone member states at the time of the coin’s issue.
The coins were minted in different variations, with specific characteristics for each eurozone country. For example, the Italian coin features the writing “REPUBBLICA ITALIANA” on the obverse side.
