What circulates in Euroland?

[Figleaf]

Just got back from a short trip in Ireland. Most coins there are Irish euro coins, with German coins following in some distance. Most of the coins are dated 1999-2004 (old map). Howwever, in the Dublin area, the 2007 and 2008 coins (new map) have started to appear. It is easy to pick them out, as they are stil shiny. I picked up a 2009 2 euro piece and a 2010 cent, both the only ones I saw.

All this is probably testimony to the big economic crisis in Ireland that involved a crash of the building and financial sectors. The economy contracted and so, there was little demand for new coins.

The elections of this weekend reflected public dismay: it decimated Fianna Fail, held responsible and the largest party almost since independence, while its eternal opposite, Fine Gael, won a record number of seats. Fine Gael will still need a coalition, probably with Labour. The Greens, former coalition partners who caused the elections won no seats.

Peter

[Bimat]

I have read somewhere that Irish bank always puts X dated coins in circulation in year X+2. (For example 2011 dated coins will be put into circulation in 2013, commemoratives are exception but they don't have many €2 commemoratives either ) That might be the reason why you got shiny Irish new map coins in Dublin

Aditya

[ciscoins]

Most of the coins are dated 1999-2004 (old map).

Ireland 1999? I thought that they didn't produce anything before 2002.

[gaf]

Even in Italy there are now many new coins in 2009, almost UNC.
It 'hard to find 2010.
Very hard to find 50 cc and € 2 if not 2002.
Some commemorative easily found, even UNC.
Italy also is in great crisis? I think so.
gaf

[chrisild]

Ireland 1999? I thought that they didn't produce anything before 2002.

Some euro countries started the production of euro coins in 1998; Ireland began in September 1999. But yes, the coins are all dated 2002 or later.

Christian

[Bimat]

Even in Italy there are now many new coins in 2009, almost UNC.
It 'hard to find 2010.
Very hard to find 50 cc and € 2 if not 2002.
Some commemorative easily found, even UNC.
Italy also is in great crisis? I think so.

I can guess that earlier Italian €2 commemoratives (2004, 2005) are easy to find in circulation as they have pretty high mintage numbers (30 million+).

I like designs on Italian €2 CCs..although 2010 CC (Cavour) was a disappointment..I wasn't expecting a portrait on Italian coin  Earlier designs were *very* impressive! 

Aditya

[Ukrainii Pyat]

Some euro countries started the production of euro coins in 1998; Ireland began in September 1999. But yes, the coins are all dated 2002 or later.

Christian

And some like Netherlands and France started ca. 1999 and dated the coins then to add confusion to the mix.  It was just their way of "front-loading" or having enough coins ready for the changeover.

[chrisild]

And some like Netherlands and France started ca. 1999 and dated the coins then to add confusion to the mix.  It was just their way of "front-loading" or having enough coins ready for the changeover.

France started minting euro coins in May 1998, Germany in August 1998, and the Netherlands in December 1998. But none of these countries has circulation coins dated 1998 ...

As the euro was introduced in January 1999, some used that year as the first to appear on their coins. As the euro coins became legal tender in January 2002, others picked that as the first year. Sounds fine to me.

Christian

[Figleaf]

Yes, Italy has its very own set of problems, but there is no perfect correlation between coin issues and economic growth. Employment and inflation figures in the Netherlands are quite good, growth figures are OK, but I have yet to see the new map coins (dated from 2007) in circulation. There is an agreement with Finland for a swap of Dutch coins for Finnish coins, that puts recent Finnish 5 cent coins in circulation. Nice, but no good to a type collector.

Even in Italy there are now many new coins in 2009, almost UNC.
It 'hard to find 2010.
Very hard to find 50 cc and € 2 if not 2002.
Some commemorative easily found, even UNC.
Italy also is in great crisis? I think so.

[Figleaf]

Just got back from France. Found only weathered coins in circulation, including a Greek commemorative 2 euro Olympics. No sign of French commemoratives. There were some some shiny 1 and 2 cents. I found three on the sidewalk in the Rue de Rivoli. Unadapted American tourists, I suppose

Peter

[chrisild]

Yeah, probably Americans. Or ... yours truly. Frankly, I do not care much about such low value pieces either. My motto, however, is: Drop the denomination, not the coin in your hand.

Christian

[chrisild]

Was not sure whether I should start a new topic for this ... The Bundesbank in Germany has just published the latest figures about the coin volume ordered by the federal government. And it seems we will be stuck with the old reverse designs for a while:

In 2007 a new map was introduced which shows (most of) geographical Europe, instead of the old European Union (EU-15) map. As far as German coins are concerned, you can see that new map on the 20 cent and 2 euro coins only. The three lowest denominations (1/2/5 ct) were not modified anyway. Now what about the 10 cent, 50 cent and 1 euro pieces, you may ask.

Well, they have the "new" map too - except that none have been issued for circulation so far. If you find any German 10 ct, 50 ct or €1 coins dated 2007 or later (and thus with the new map), they come from opened/cracked collector sets. And apparently that is not going to change next year: http://www.bundesbank.de/download/bargeld/muenzpraegung.pdf

Scroll down to the bottom of the last page (p. 3), and you will see that the latest order, for 2012 coins. Still no 0.10/0.50/1.00 pieces. Now there may be later orders for 2012. Also, if an order is for year X, that does not necessarily mean all minted pieces will show the year X. So I have not quite given up my hope yet ...

Christian

[Sir Sisu]

Pretty soon some Finn 1 and 2 cent coins will circulate in the south of Spain after my vacation there. Or then maybe not if they just get thrown to the ground.

I've recently seen a lot of new Finn €2 2006 in ciculation. Either lots of hoarded rolls have been broken open or then they've been in the bottom of the banks piles. Last year's Finn commem I have yet to come across in circulation except once.

[Figleaf]

Just got back from Brussels. Total interesting coins spotted: one, a lightly circulated Belgian commemorative: 2 euros 2008 human rights. I now have 7 different circulated 2 euro coins together. They are €14 plus postage for the first comer. I am also holding a 2 euro Austria 2011 for those interested.

Peter