| Value | 0.20 euro |
|---|---|
| Mass | 5.74 g |
| Diameter | 22.25 mm |
| Thickness | 2.14 mm |
| Edge | plain but with seven broad indentations consistent with Spanish flower shape of the coin |
| Composition | Nordic Gold |
| Years of minting | 1999 –present |
| Obverse | |
| Design | 24 variations, see below. |
| Designer | Various |
| Design date | Various |
| Reverse | |
 | |
| Design | Map of Europe with the denomination shown in Latin characters |
| Designer | Luc Luycx |
| Design date | 2007 |
The 20 euro cent coin (€0.20) has a value of one-fifth of a euro and is composed of an alloy called Nordic Gold in the Spanish flower shape. All euro coins have a common reverse side and country-specific national sides. The coin has been used since 2002, with the present common side design dating from 2007.
History
The coin dates from 2002, when euro coins and banknotes were introduced in the 12 member eurozone and its related territories. The common side was designed by Luc Luycx, a Belgian artist who won a Europe-wide competition to design the new coins. The design of the 10 to 50 cent coins were intended to show separate states of the European Union (EU), as opposed to the one and two euro coins showing the 15 states as one and the 1 to 5 cent coins showing the EU's place in the world.
The national sides, then 15 (eurozone + Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican who could mint their own) were each designed according to national competitions, though to specifications which applied to all coins such as the requirement of including twelve stars (see euro coins for more). National designs were not allowed to change until the end of 2008, unless a monarch (whose portrait usually appears on the coins) dies or abdicates. This happened in Monaco and the Vatican City resulting in three new designs in circulation (the Vatican had an interim design until the new Pope was selected). National designs have seen some changes due to new rules stating that national designs should include the name of the issuing country (Finland and Belgium both do not show their name, and hence have made minor changes).
As the EU's membership has since expanded in 2004 and 2007, with further expansions envisaged, the common face of all euro coins from the value of 10 cent and above were redesigned in 2007 to show a new map. This map showed Europe, not just the EU, as one continuous landmass, however Cyprus was moved west as the map cut off after the Bosporus (which was seen as excluding Turkey for political reasons). The redesign in 2007, rather than in 2004, was because 2007 saw the first enlargement of the eurozone: the entry of Slovenia. Hence, the Slovenian design was added to the designs in circulation. Two more designs were added in 2008 with the entry of Cyprus and Malta and another one in 2009 with Slovakia, and four more for Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Croatia were added in 2011, 2014, 2015, and 2023, respectively.
Design
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The coins are composed of an alloy called Nordic gold, with a diameter of 22.25 mm, a 2.14 mm thickness and a mass of 5.74 grams. The coins' edges are smooth with seven indentations from the coin's "Spanish flower" shape. The coins have been used from 2002, though some are dated 1999 which is the year the euro was created as a currency, but not put into general circulation.
Reverse (common) side
The reverse (used from 2007 onwards) was designed by Luc Luycx and displays a map of Europe on the left. The map does not include Iceland and cuts off on the right through Russia (at a line from the Kandalaksha Gulf to the Bosphorus). Additionally, Cyprus is moved westward under Crete in order to include it and Malta is shown as disproportionally large so that it shows up. The map is flat and level with most of the coin and the sea is shown as an indentation. Six fine lines cut through the sea, breaking when passing through the map, and at their ends at the top and bottom are twelve stars (reflective of the flag of Europe). To the right, in raised lettering, is "20 Euro Cent" with the '20' being shown much larger than the words. The designer's initials, LL, appear next to the 0 in 20.
Luc Luycx designed the original coin, which was much the same except the design was only of the then 15 members and shown with gaps between the states and raised rather than with an indented sea.
Obverse (national) sides
The obverse side of the coin depends on the issuing country. All have to include twelve stars (in most cases a circle around the edge), the engraver's initials and the year of issue. New designs also have to include the name or initials of the issuing country. The side cannot repeat the denomination of the coin unless the issuing country uses an alphabet other than Latin (currently, Greece is the only such country hence they engrave "20 ΛΕΠΤΑ" upon their coins).
| State | Details | Years of minting | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
 Andorran euro coins |
The Church of Santa Coloma d'Andorra | 2014 onward | |
 Austrian euro coins |
Belvedere Palace, an example of baroque architecture, symbolising national freedom and sovereignty due to the fact it was at Belvedere where the 1955 treaty re-establishing Austrian sovereignty was signed. The words "euro cent" appear at the top, with the denomination, followed by a hatched Austrian flag and the date appears below (but within the circle). | 2002 onward | |
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Belgian euro coins |
FIRST SERIES: An effigy of King Albert II. To the right hand side among the stars was the kings monogram, a letter "A", underneath a crown. The year is lower down, also among the stars. | 1999–2007 | |
| SECOND SERIES: A redesign to include the letters BE (standing for Belgium) beneath the monogram, which was moved out of the stars into the centre circle but still to the right of the King's renewed portrait. The date was also moved out and placed beneath the effigy and included two symbols either side (left: signature mark of the master of the mint, right: mint mark). | 2008–2013 | ||
| THIRD SERIES: In 2013, Albert II abdicated with Philippe of Belgium becoming King. He subsequently replaced Albert on Belgian coins. | 2014 onward | ||
 Croatian euro coins |
Silhouette portrait of Nikola Tesla encircled by magnetic field lines and a checkerboard in the background. | 2023 onward | |
 Cypriot euro coins |
A Kyrenia ship, a 4th-century BCE trading vessel symbolising the seafaring and trading history of Cyprus. It includes, in a semicircle to the top right, the name of Cyprus in Greek and Turkish (ΚΥΠΡΟΣ and KIBRIS) each side of the date. | 2008 onward | |
 Estonian euro coins |
A geographical inset image of the territory of Estonia and the word “Eesti” (“Estonia”). | 2011 onward | .jpg.webp) |
 Finnish euro coins |
FIRST SERIES: The heraldic lion of Finland found on the Coat of arms of Finland. It is a reproduction of a design by the sculptor Heikki Häiväoja and has been used by previous Finnish coins such as the 1 markka between 1964 and 2001. The first series included the initial of the mint master of the Mint of Finland, Raimo Makkonen (an M), on the bottom left side of the lion and the date to the left. | 1999–2007 | |
| SECOND SERIES: When the coins were redesign to meet the new design requirements, the initial was replaced by the mint's mint mark and moved to the left, with the letters FI (for Finland) sitting in the bottom right. | 2007 onward | ||
 French euro coins |
A sower in a field with a rising sun behind her. The image is taken from the previous one French franc coin designed by Louis Oscar Roty. Oscar Roty's art nouveau design reset the global trend, breaking from traditional static portraits to a full body, strident figure sowing the seeds of good fortune. For the euro coins, Jorio added hatching each side representing the French flag with the year to the left and the letters RF (République française) to the right. | 1999 onward | |
 German euro coins |
The Brandenburg Gate as a symbol of the reunification of Germany and Europe. The year and mint mark is shown at the bottom. | 1999 onward | |
 Greek euro coins |
A portrait of Ioannis Kapodistrias (1776–1831), diplomat and politician who was the first Governor (head of state) of Greece following their war of independence. His name in Greek is shown to the bottom left of the portrait and to the right is the denomination in Greek with the year to the left. | 2001 onward |  |
 Irish euro coins |
The national emblem of Ireland, an Irish harp (the Cláirseach, see Clàrsach). Vertically on the left hand side is the word "Éire" (Ireland in the Irish language) and on the right hand side is the date. The harp motif was designed by Jarlath Hayes. | 2002 onward | |
 Italian euro coins |
A depiction of the futurist sculpture Unique Forms of Continuity in Space by Umberto Boccioni. Boccioni, a leading futurist painter and sculptor from Reggio Calabria, created the sculpture in 1913 and it is considered a masterpiece of futurism. It includes the interconnected letters IR (Repubblica Italiana), the year is shown to the top right with the mint mark just above it. | 1999 onward | |
 Latvian euro coins |
The coat of arms of the Republic of Latvia above the word LATVIJA (Latvia). | 2014 onward | |
 Lithuanian euro coins |
The Vytis (symbol of the coat-of-arms) and the word “Lietuva”, which means “Lithuania”. The twelve stars, symbols of the EU, surrounds the Vytis. | 2015 onward |  |
 Luxembourgish euro coins |
A stylised effigy of Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg. The name Lëtzebuerg (Luxembourg in Luxembourgish) and the year is written round the outer left side of the coin. | 1999 onward | |
 Maltese euro coins |
The Coat of arms of Malta, which includes the Maltese flag and a mural crown of fortifications symbolising a city state. Shield of the arms is bound by an olive branch and a palm branch as Maltese symbols of peace, tied at their base by a ribbon reading “Repubblika ta’ Malta” (Republic of Malta). The name Malta sits round the upper left inner edge and the year in a similar fashion on the right. | 2008 onward | |
 Monégasque euro coins |
FIRST SERIES: The seal of Monaco with the name MONACO was written across the top of the coin's outer circle and the year across the bottom of the outer circle with the mint marks. | 2004–2006 | |
| SECOND SERIES: Upon the death of Prince Rainier III in 2005, and the accession of Prince Albert II the seal was replaced with the monogram of Prince Albert II and the name Monaco and the year were brought within the inner circle. | 2006 onward |  | |
 Dutch euro coins |
FIRST SERIES: A stylised profile of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands surrounded by the twelve stars and other dots, with the inscription “Beatrix Queen of The Netherlands” in Dutch around the edge. The date and mint marks are located at the bottom. | 1999–2013 | |
| SECOND SERIES: Following the accession to the throne of King Willem-Alexander, a new series of euro coins was issued depicting the effigy of the new Head of State. | 2014 onward | ||
 Portuguese euro coins |
The royal seal of 1142 surrounded by the country's castles and five escutcheona with silver bezants set in relation to the surrounding European stars which is supposed to symbolise dialogue, exchange of values and dynamics in the building of Europe. Between the castles are the numbers of the year towards the bottom and the letters of the name Portugal between the upper icons. The stars are inset on a ridge. | 1999 onward | |
 Sammarinese euro coins |
FIRST SERIES: Saint Marinus who founded the city state, which is the world's oldest surviving republic, in the year 301 after fleeing persecution for his Christian beliefs in what is now Croatia. The image is based on a canvas from the Guercino school. In a semicircle to his left are the words San Marino, and in a similar fashion to his right is the date with the mint marks between the stars to the bottom right. | 2002–2017 | |
| SECOND SERIES: Mount Titano with the three Towers | 2018 onward | ||
 Slovak euro coins |
Bratislava Castle, with the national emblem in the bottom left of the picture. Below the image is the date and curving just above the circling stars is the name SLOVENSKO (Slovakia). | 2009 onward | |
 Slovenian euro coins |
A pair of Lipizzaner horses. The moral claim over the prestigious animals had been fought over between Slovenia and its neighbours. Slovenia considers them part of their culture and their home town, Lipica, has been in Slovenia since the second world war. In 2005, the Lipica stud farm celebrated its 425th anniversary. In a semicircle above that are two lines of text, the outer one reading SLOVENIJA (Slovenia) between the twelve stars and the inner one reading "Lipicanec",Lipizzaner in Slovenian. | 2007 onward | |
 Spanish euro coins |
FIRST SERIES: An effigy of Miguel de Cervantes, the father of Spanish literature. His name and a quill is shown to the left, the name España (Spain) above it and the mint mark below. The date is shown at the bottom of the coin. The top right four stars are indented on a raised area, inverting the effect of the rest of the coin. | 1999–2009 | |
| SECOND SERIES: In 2010 the raised area around the stars was removed. | 2010 onward | ||
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Vatican euro coins |
FIRST SERIES: An effigy of Pope John Paul II. The name CITTA DEL VATICANO (Vatican City), followed by the year and mint mark, was written in a break between the stars below. | 2000–2005 | |
| SECOND SERIES: Following the death of John Paul II in 2005, a new coin was issued during the Sede vacante until a new Pope was chosen. This contained the insignia of the Apostolic Chamber and the coat of arms of the Cardinal Chamberlain. | 2005–2006 | ||
| THIRD SERIES: When Pope Benedict XVI was elected, his effigy appeared on the coins, with the name of the city now broken to his top right with the year and mint mark in the middle to his right. | 2006–2013 | ||
| FOURTH SERIES: In 2014 the coins were updated with the election of Pope Francis. CITTA DEL VATICANO is written around the top, broken by Pope Francis' head, with the date below the O in Vaticano. | 2014–2016 | ||
| FIFTH SERIES: After the announcement that Pope Francis would not appear on any coins issued by the Vatican, a new series of euro coins were issued to depict the papal coat of arms of Francis. | 2017 onward |
Planned designs
Austria, Germany and Greece will also at some point need to update their designs to comply with guidelines stating they must include the issuing state's name or initial. Austria will also have to remove the denomination of the coin from its design, Greece is exempt from this requirement as it uses a non-Latin alphabet.
In addition, there are several EU states that have not yet adopted the euro. While some of them have already agreed upon their coin designs, these are not yet minted as it is not known exactly when they will adopt the currency. See enlargement of the Eurozone for expected entry dates of these countries.
References
- ↑ Institutions and the members of the Eurozone
External links
- "National sides: 20 cents". European Central Bank. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
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