Modifications to the obverses and reverses of the 1, 2 and 5 euro cent coins

[FosseWay]

I've tried to do a search on this but am hindered by the fact that searches have to contain "words" of at least three characters. Searching on "Germany 2 cent" is therefore not possible. 

I've just got off the ferry from Kiel so haven't unearthed the coin in question to scan it yet. A picture will follow.

During my stay in Germany, I received a nice shiny 2 Cent 2018 D. The oak sprig is notably smaller than on earlier issues and the mintmark and date further from the circle of stars (aligned with the base of the stem, which no longer touches the circle). I haven't seen enough small coppers from 2018 and the past few years to establish whether this is a random variant on a small number of coins or a conscious change in design, or if the latter, when it occurred.

I did, however, also receive a 1 Cent 2018 F which has the normal oak sprig with stem touching the circle. The 10 Cent 2018 F is also no different from previous issues as far as I can see.

Does anyone know more?

[FosseWay]

Here is the 2018 piece with one from earlier as comparison. As I said, the leaves, stem, mintmark and date are all noticeably further from the circle of stars on the 2018 piece.

[andyg]

It's on Numista for 2017 too...
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces106.html

[Figleaf]

Maybe the ring with the stars has changed, rather than the central part. It looks further from the edge of the coin.

Peter

[redlock]

During my stay in Germany, I received a nice shiny 2 Cent 2018 D. The oak sprig is notably smaller than on earlier issues and the mintmark and date further from the circle of stars (aligned with the base of the stem, which no longer touches the circle).

This is a result of the ''Make the 1, 2, 5 Eurocent coin production cheaper'' program that started in 2016/2017. I think it was first noticed with Italian 1c & 2c from 2017. As it is gradually implemented by the mints in the Eurozone there are coins already made to the new production standards and others not. The coin designs have been changed or ''improved'' so that there is less ''waste'' and ''wear'' during production and thus making the production cheaper.

[FosseWay]

Interesting - thanks.

I wonder what makes the revised 2 cent design better (according to redlock's criteria), and why they didn't change the 1c at the same time. Presumably all three "copper" values are simply scaled versions of each other?

Are there any design differences on the Italian 2017 coins by the way? Or is the difference only in the metal?

[Arminius]

Maybe the engraver considered the current drought. Many plants are smaller this summer.   

[chrisild]

 

[redlock]

@FosseWay:

Here is the google translation of a statement by the Bundesfinanzministerium (German Finance Ministry) regarding the topic:

''The production of the coin blanks is improved and the manufacturing tolerances are extended, which leads to copper savings. In addition, the coin reliefs are slightly rounded without changing the appearance of the coins. This extends the useful life of the equipment used to make the coins and thus reduces the cost of embossing.''
https://www.bundesfinanzministerium.de/Content/DE/Standardartikel/Service/Sammlermuenzen/2017-12-13-Produktionskosten-Cent-Muenzen.html

It is said that, on average, the changes allow a production increase of 30% for the ''coppers.''

As I have said, the mints gradually introduce the new production methods. So, there are still coins minted by the ''old'' method. But eventually, all the old dies and blanks will be retired. You'll have to watch each country and mint carefully. 

[FosseWay]

Thanks - I will do just that (though I'm not going anywhere where they use the small cents soon).

[<k>]

By what law or regulation is Germany allowed to do this? Presumably, permission for such actions needs to come from the European Central Bank. Why was information about this move not published beforehand, so that EU citizens such as FosseWay would not not left in confusion?

[redlock]

By what law or regulation is Germany allowed to do this? Presumably, permission for such actions needs to come from the European Central Bank. Why was information about this move not published beforehand, so that EU citizens such as FosseWay would not not left in confusion?

From the ECB web-site:
Coins

Responsibility for minting euro coins lies with the national governments of the euro area countries. However, the overall value of the coins to be put into circulation annually has to be approved by the Governing Council of the ECB.

Secondly, according to the press release by the Bundesfinanzministerium all Eurozone members (Sweden is not a Eurozone member  ) agreed to the changes.
In fact, the first coppers where the changes were noticed (as fas as I know) were Italy 1c and 2c from 2017 and Austrian 2c from 2017.

[<k>]

I see. Thank you. Sweden is still a member of the EU, and Swedish citizens are able to freely travel throughout the euro zone and will expect to use the coins, of course.

[FosseWay]

I did actually know about the general thrust of the cost saving programme from another post on here (albeit not long before I found that 2c coin). What was unclear was the effect, if any, it would have on the designs themselves - all the information I've seen said something along the lines of what redlock quoted above, namely "In addition, the coin reliefs are slightly rounded without changing the appearance of the coins." To me, that means that you'd get coins that look like the obverse of 1985 £1 coins as compared with 1986 ones, not that design elements would actually change size or location in relation to one another.

[Angus]

I'd agree that the 2017 and 2018 2c coins' leaves are slightly further from the edge, and these are the A coins: http://www.eurocollection.co.uk/Germany.html