Italy’s governments tend to survive for rather short amounts of time. The political system had been surprisingly solid – until it collapsed completely due to a corruption scandal. A man who was to guide Italy into the eurozone made use of this situation in 1994: Silvio Berlusconi.
Join us on a numismatic journey around the world! In this article, we’ll be taking a look at the coins of Luxembourg, both past and present. This small nation, which is home to many EU institutions, is closely linked to its ruling family. This is also reflected in its coins.
It took a long time for the Brandenburg Gate to be featured on German 10, 20 and 50 cent coins. There is simply no better symbol to remind of the reunification of East and West Germany after the Iron Curtain came down.
Every motif on euro coins represents a country’s national identity. It took a long time for the Brandenburg Gate to be featured on German 10, 20 and 50 cent coins. At the beginning, the monument was extremely controversial, the architect was even mocked for it.
The euro coins are a splendid means for all countries in the eurozone to convey their own self-conception. Why did the Italians choose to depict solely works of art on their euro coins? And how important a role does famous Castel del Monte, built by Frederick II, play in Italian national identity?
The euro coins are a splendid means for all countries in the eurozone to convey their own self-conception. What does the pilgrimage to St. James mean to Spain? And what role did the Way of St. James play for European Christians of medieval times? Here you get the backdrop of the design of the Spanish 1, 2 and 5 cent coins.
The euro coins are a splendid means for all countries in the eurozone to convey their own self-conception. Choosing Miguel de Cervantes, writer of Don Quixote as depiction of a coin is a masterstroke allowing the former global power Spain to give the best account of itself.
The euro coins are a splendid means for all countries in the eurozone to convey their own self-conception. Bertha von Suttner was at the forefront of a peace movement that considered in the early 20th century that all future wars could be prevented. Thus, she is a worthy protagonist for the Austrian euro coins.
Mozart is a brand, just like Coca Cola, Mercedes or Apple. With his name, everything can easily be sold: the Getreidegasse (Grain Lane) in Salzburg, the real Mozartkugeln (Mozart ball) and the country of Austria that depicts on his coins a composer who, strictly speaking isn’t of Austrian descent.
On April 14, 2016, the 5 euro coins “Planet Earth” will be released. The number of orders exceeds the mintage. For all those who came away empty-handed we have a view inside the Karlsruhe Mint where a portion of the mintage was produced.
