Italy issues €2 "Constitution" Coin

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One year ago, the heads of state/government of the 25 member states of the European Union signed the Constitutional Treaty. That treaty was supposed to replace the current EC Treaty and EU Treaty, and was then ratified by most national parliaments. Also, in two national referendums (Spain and Luxembourg) the majority voted Yes. However, people in two other referendums voted against the constitution. The French and Dutch No basically "killed" the Constitutional Treaty, and the EC & EU Treaties will continue to apply. Nevertheless the Italian Mint will issue a €2 coin that commemorates the first anniversary of the signing of the treaty in Rome.

 

As for when the piece will be issued, well, the government bulletin http://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/guri/atto_...sw1=0&numprov=0 says it will be legal tender as from 29 October. That, however, is a Saturday - not the best day to put a coin into circulation. So I suppose it will actually be out some time between late Oct and the end of the year :-)

 

 

The coin shows Europa and the bull, a sujet which can also be found on the Greek €2 coins. On this piece, Europa holds a book or document which is supposed to be the Constitutional Treaty. Mintage will be 18 million.

 

Christian

[tabbs]

The coin has been issued this weekend. The Saturday (29 Oct) was chosen because of its "symbolic value" since that is the day when, one year before, the Constitutional Treaty was signed. But now some banks in Italy actually have it, and sold pieces and rolls today. Due to the holiday tomorrow, however, many banks will not have them available until Wednesday.

 

A neat picture of the actual coin is here for example:

http://www.numismatico.de/files/gutes_bild_503.jpg

 

Christian