Two Euro 2007 Treaty of Rome, Coin from Austria - detailed information

The Two Euro coin (€2.00) is a circulating bi-metallic coin made of two alloys: the inner part of nickel brass, the outer part of copper-nickel. Like all the common circulation coins (from 1 cent to €2), the denomination is issued by the separate countries in the Eurozone and is legal tender in all of them, irrespective of which country has issued it. The denomination was introduced in 2002, when Austria retired the Austrian Schilling currency and introduced the Euro.

The coins have a common reverse designed by Luc Luycx in 1999 which shows a map of the European Union; it was changed in 2007 to reflect the enlargement of the Union. Each country has its own national obverse; the Austrian regular obverse features a portrait of Bertha von Suttner.

The €2 is also the only denomination in which circulating commemorative Euro coins are issued; these are also legal tender in all countries of the Eurozone, no matter which country issued them; commemoratives of other denominations are only legal tender in the issuing country. The number of commemorative coins is limited to two (before 2012 to one) per country per year (in addition to any common issue) and to 5 percent of the total mintage output. Given that the reverse is fixed, the commemorative designs are always on the obverse.

This coin commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Signature of the Treaty of Rome on 25 March 1957, which eventually brought about the creation of the European Union. It is part of a joint commemorative by 13 members states, where each country issued a €2 coin with the same design but with national texts; Cyprus and Hungary (members of the EU but not of the Eurozone at the time) had parallel issues in their national currencies.

The design by Helmut Andexlinger shows the treaty signed by the original six member states of the European Coal and Steel Community, on a background symbolising Michelangelo's paving on the Piazza del Campidoglio in Rome where the treaty was signed. The translation of EUROPE is inscribed above the book, but within the central design, whereas the translation of TREATY OF ROME 50 YEARS appears above the design.

Austrian Two Euro coins issued in 2007 have now been in circulation for 16 years.