TYE - Half a dozen

Ten Years of Euro Banknotes and Coins - TYE

6 more TYE UNC coins, all depicted in the image, (from Finland, Austria, Irland, Slovénia, Belgium and Germany -J), also sent by Jose, from Murcia, Spain. 

The Euro-sign in the centre of the coin shows that the Euro has become an element of particular importance in Europe as well all over the world as the Euro evolved to a global player in the international monetary system in the last 10 years.  

The design elements around the Euro- symbol on the coin express the importance of the Euro to the people, to the financial world (ECB tower), to trading (ships), to industry (factories), to the energy sector and research and development (wind power stations). 

Citizens and residents of the euro area have selected the winning design for this new euro coin issued by all euro area countries to commemorate ten years of euro banknotes and coins in January 2012.

The winning design symbolises the way in which the euro has become a true global player over the past ten years, as well as its importance in day-to-day life,

See last two posts

Guimarães 2012

Issued year - 2012, June

Guimarães - European Capital of Culture 2012

I bought them a few hours ago, along with hundreds of other people trying to do the same, at the Portugal Bank...

The newest portuguese commemorative coin depicts a stylised image of Afonso Henriques, the first King of Portugal, together with his sword and the Castle of Guimarães, which is regarded as the birthplace of Portugal as an independent nation in the 12th century. To the left of the image is the Portuguese shield above the word “PORTUGAL”. To the lower right is the inscription “GUIMARÃES 2012” with the logo of Guimarães 2012 European Capital of Culture. Along the lower edge of the inner part are the mintmark “INCM” and the name of the designer, “JOSÉ DE GUIMARÃES”. 

Issuing volume: 500.000

TYE - Ten Years of Euro banknotes and coins

Depicted in the image is the result of my first swap with Jose, from Murcia, Spain, last February. He sent me these magnificent TYE 2012 commemorative coins (from Estonia, Slovakia, Germany and Greece, and also the 2011 "The Special Olympics World Summer Games - Athens 2011" Greek coin , in exchange for several portuguese commemorative coins.

Citizens and residents of the euro area have selected the winning design for this new euro coin issued by all euro area countries to commemorate ten years of euro banknotes and coins in January 2012. Using web-voting, they had five designs to choose from. Those designs had been pre-selected by a professional jury at the close of a design competition that was open to citizens from all euro area countries.

The winning design symbolises the way in which the euro has become a true global player over the past ten years, as well as its importance in day-to-day life, with various aspects being depicted: ordinary people (the family of four), trade (the ship), industry (the factory) and energy (the wind power stations).

The design was created by Helmut Andexlinger, a professional designer at the Austrian Mint.

Issuing volume: 

Greece 2011 - 1.000.000 

Estonia TYE - 6.000.000 

Germany TYE - 30.000.000 (5 different mintmarks - A, D, F, G and J - 6 million for each)

Slovakia TYE - 1.000.000 

Greece TYE - 1.000.000.

Women´s International Day

Issued year - 2011, March

100th anniversary of International Women’s Day

The other commemorative coin sent by Xav, a French euro coin collector, in our last swap, in exchange for portuguese commemorative coins.

The inner part of the coin commemorating the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, which is celebrated on 8 March, features effigies of Isala Van Diest, the first female Belgian medical doctor, and Marie Popelin, the first female Belgian lawyer above a semicircle formed by their names and the symbols of their professions on either side of the year 2011. 
Thanks.

See last post

Issuing volume: 5.000.000

Battle of Marathon...from Greece, obviously!

Issuance year - 2010, October 2.500th anniversary of the Battle of Marathon 

Xav, from France, sent me the Greek coin depicted in the image, along with the Belgium "100th anniversary of International Women's Day" coin, (see next post) and also some  missing currency coins, as a result of our last and only swap, happening last January.

The coin commemorates the 2.500th anniversary of the Battle of Marathon. The centre of the coin shows a synthesis of a shield and a runner/warrior representing the struggle for freedom and the noble ideals that the Battle of Marathon stands for. The bird on the shield symbolises the birth of Western civilisation in its present form.

Thanks, Xav.

Issuing volume: 2.500.000

Erasmus

Issuance year - 2011, January

The 500th anniversary of the publication of the world-famous book "Laus Stultitiae" by the Dutch philosopher, humanist and theologian Desiderus Erasmus

The last of the 5 commemorative coins that Miguel from Madrid, Spain, sent me in our last swap.
This is not a good image of this original coin that shows Erasmus writing his book on the right and the effigy of Queen Beatrix on the left. The two images are separated by the vertical inscription "Beatrix Koningin der Nederlanden".

Issuing volume: 4.000.000

Swan - Finland's national bird

Issued year - 2011, October

200th anniversary of the Bank of Finland

These 3 finnish UNC commemorative coins depicted in the image were sent by Noora from Finland, in exchange for 3 other commemorative coins, in our last in the begining of the year.

This original coin to mark the Bank of Finland’s 200th anniversary, which was designed by the artist Hannu Veijalainen, depicts Finland’s national bird, the swan.
In addition, the inner part of the coin bears the dates “2011”, the year of issue, and “1811”, the year in which Emperor Alexander I of Russia decreed that an “Exchange, Lending and Deposit Office” was to be established in Turku, Finland. It was Finland’s first bank and eventually became the Bank of Finland, which moved to Helsinki in 1819.

Issuing volume: 1.500.000

TYE - 10th anniversary of euro banknotes and coins

Issued year - 2012, February

Brought yesterday...

"Ten years ago, on 1 January 2002, euro banknotes and coins were introduced in 12 Member States of the European Union. The introduction of the euro cash was an unprecedented challenge, but it went smoothly, and billions of banknotes and coins started to circulate in a matter of days. Five more Member States have adopted the euro in recent years, so a total of 17 Member States – and 332 million people – now use the currency. It has become a symbol of Europe, and the banknotes and coins have become a part of our daily lives."

The original desing symbolises the way in which the euro has become a true global player over the past ten years, as well as its importance in day-to-day life, with various aspects being depicted: ordinary people (the family of four), trade (the ship), industry (the factory) and energy (the wind power stations).

Issuing volume: 500.000

Unitá D'Italia!

Issuance year - 2011, March

150th anniversary of the unification of Italy

One more coin depicted in the image as a result of a recent exchange with Miguel, from Madrid, Spain. He sent this Italian and the 5 commemorative in background and also some currency Estonian and Spanish coins.

The inner part of the coin shows, in the centre, three Italian flags fluttering in the wind, to mark three past periods of 50 years each – the periods ending in 1911, 1961 and 2011 respectively - in illustration of a perfect link between generations: this is the logo of the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy. Written in a semi-circle along the upper outer edge around the three flags is the inscription “150° DELL’ UNITÁ D’ITALIA” (150th anniversary of the unification of Italy).

See last and next posts.

aa Issuing volume: 10.000.000

Two to Tango!

Issuance year - 2011, March

For our third swap, Miguel C. from Madrid, Spain, sent me some currency and the commemorative coins depicted in the image, including these 2 UNC 2011 Spanish "Court of the Lions", in exchange of  several UNC portuguese commemorative "Fernão Mendes Pinto" coins.

It depicts the Court of the Lions in the Alhambra, the fortified castle in the city of Granada, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984.
The Court of the Lions is the main court of the Nasrid dynasty Palace of the Lions, in the heart of the Alhambra, the Moorish citadel formed by a complex of palaces, gardens and forts. It was commissioned by the Nasrid sultan Muhammed V of the Emirate of Granada in Al-Andalus. Its construction started in the second period of his reign, between 1362 and 1391 AD.
Issuing volume: 7.927.000
See last 2 posts.

Let's play!

Issuance year - 2011, June

30th anniversary of the Day of Music

30e anniversaire Fête de la Musique

Another coin sent by Miguel, from Madrid, in our last swap. In a total of 6 commemorative coins, this one  shows a cheerful crowd, with a stylised image of a musical instrument and notes floating in the air, denoting the atmosphere of celebration on the Day of Music, which has been celebrated every summer solstice in France since 1981. 

Issuing volume: 10.000.000

Astonishing

Issuance year - 2011, March

100th anniversary of the birth of Franc Rozman-Stane

Depicted in the image, all the coins (15) sent by Miguel, from Madrid, Spain, in exchange for the newest commemorative portuguese coins - Fernão Mendes Pinto, in our last swap last month. In the foreground, one of the commemorative ones, the original and astonishing Slovenian 2011 commemorative coin.

The inner part of the coin bears a stylised image of Franc Rozman-Stane, general in the High Command of the Slovene partisan army and a national hero of Slovenia.

Muchas Gracias, Miguel.

Issuing volume: 1.000.000

See next posts

2 and 1 roll (25)

Issued year - 2011, September

FERNÃO MENDES PINTO - 500th Anniversary of the birth

All the coins depicted in the image were brought today, from the Portugal Bank treasury. Fernão Mendes Pinto left Lisbon in 1537 and embarked on an extraordinary voyage around the coast of Africa, India, Sumatra, Zion, Cambodia, China and Japan, a feat that personified the spirit of the portuguese explorers who set sail on adventures to expand the horizons of the world. His book "Peregrinação" (pilgrimage), published posthumously in 1614, is the story of this exceptional journey through the lands of the Orient, during which Fernão Mendes Pinto was a trader, a chronicler, a Jesuit, a pirate and an ambassador «thirteen times captured and seventeen sold», in a succession of prodigies, marvels and adventures that combined reality and fantasy, dazzling a sixteenth century Europe thirsty for tales and stories about far-flung peoples and places.
The inner part of the coin depicts a sailing ship floating on a sea formed by a series of wave-shaped references to Portugal, Lisbon, his book and some of the destinations of his travels, With the country designation “Portugal” centred beneath them. His name flanked by the dates “1511” and “2011” form a semicircle around the upper edge of the inner part.


At the moment, several coins are available to swap
Issuing volume: 500.000

Portuguese Explorers...

Issued year - 2011, May

Hermenegildo Capelo and Roberto Ivens - European Explorers

Depicted in the image, one more coin that one good portuguese friend, Mr. Joaquim, gave me, last month, directly from the Bank of Portugal. The obverse of this original coin features the 2 famous portuguese explorers, Hermenegildo Capelo and Roberto Ivens, legend "Exploradores Europeus" and the Logotip from Europe serie. The Reverse shows one Africa tree, the facial value, National arms and date. In the last quarter of the 19th century, under the auspices of the Lisbon Geographical Society, Hermenegildo Capelo (1847-1917) and Roberto Ivens (1850-1898) embarked on two of the most notable expeditions in the history of humanity; first from Benguela to the lands of Laca, and then from Angola to Contracosta. Their intention was to explore the African interior, more specifically the territories lying between the provinces of Angola and Mozambique, showing that the Portuguese will to "bring new worlds to the World" did not dry up after the Voyages of Discovery.During these expeditions, Hermenegildo Capelo and Roberto Ivens performed geographical and cartographic surveys and collected meteorological data and many natural history specimens that contributed a lot to increasing scientific knowledge at the time.

See also last Post

Historic and military coin

Issued year - 2011, May

100th anniversary of the pupils of the Army College

A portuguese friend, Mr. Joaquim, got me this original coin (and the one from next Post) directly from the Bank of Portugal. Only 100.000 of this magnificent 2,5 € coin have been issued. The Pupilos do Exército (Pupils of the Army) institute was created in May 1911. Throughout its 100 years of existence it has been part of the history and evolution of education in Portugal, in its role as an institute dedicated to the physical and intellectual training of citizens, in accordance with its motto - "Where there's a will there's a way".Its excellence in education, marked by the characteristic strictness, methods and discipline of a military institution, is universally acknowledged and has received several decorations, specifically that of Commander of the Military Order of Christ.The Portuguese Mint and Official Printing Office is joining the celebrations for the centenary of the Pupilos do Exército Institute by minting this commemorative coin bearing the barretina and the sword, symbols of the school and of its links to the Military Academy.


See also next post