20 Facts About Euro coins

The 1c, 2c and 5c coins show Europe in relation to Asia and Africa in the world.

The remaining coins show the EU before its enlargement in May 2004 if minted before 1 January 2007, or a geographical map of Europe if minted after.

Common side of the 1c, 2c and 5c coins depict the denomination, the words 'EURO CENT' beside it, twelve stars and Europe highlighted on a globe in relation to Asia and Africa in the world.

The common side of the 10c, 20c and 50c coins currently depict the denomination on the right, the words 'EURO CENT' underneath it, with twelve stars and the European continent on the left.

The common side of the €1 and €2 coins depict the denomination on the left, the currency, map of Europe and twelve stars on the right.

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Similarly, coins minted from 1999 to 2006 depicted the EU15, rather than the whole European continent, which is on coins minted from 2007.

All Euro coins have a common reverse side showing how much the coin is worth, with a design by Belgian designer Luc Luycx.

The 1c, 2c and 5c coins show Europe in relation to the rest of the world, therefore they remained unchanged.

Original designs of the 10c, 20c and 50c Euro coins showed the outline of each of the 15 EU member states.

The researchers warned that the Euro coins could contain between 240 and 320 times the amount of nickel allowed under the EU nickel directive.

Each of the eight Euro coins can have the same design, or can vary from coin to coin.

The 10c, 20c and 50c Euro coins are made of Nordic gold, which is a unique alloy, difficult to melt and used exclusively for Euro coins.

Euro coins were designed in cooperation with organisations representing blind people, and as a result they incorporate many features allowing them to be distinguished by touch alone.

However, these gold Euro coins are intended for collectors as their bullion value vastly exceeds their face value.

EU law states that any country can issue any new Euro coins it wants as long as they are in an irregular denomination, so it invented a €2.

Approximately 100,000 counterfeit euro coins are taken from circulation annually, and roughly the same number are seized before they can be released.

The majority of counterfeit Euro coins are €2, with most of the rest being €1, and a few 50c Euro coins.

The number of counterfeit €2 Euro coins being found annually is decreasing, while numbers of counterfeit €1 and 50-cent Euro coins are increasing.

The Euro coins are still legal tender and produced outside these states.

In May 2017, the Italian parliament passed a resolution to stop minting 1c and 2c Euro coins starting 1 January 2018 and to introduce Swedish rounding.