Two Euro 2009 Economic and Monetary Union, 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 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) in 1999, which lead to the introduction of the Euro as a common currency of the countries in the Eurozone. It is part of a joint commemorative by 16 members states, where each country issued a €2 coin with the same design but with national texts.

The centre of the coin shows a stylised human figure whose left arm is prolonged by the euro symbol. The initials ΓΣ of the sculptor appear below the euro symbol. The name of the issuing country in the national language appears at the top, while the indication 1999 - 2009 and the acronym EMU translated into the national language appear at the bottom. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin.

Austrian Two Euro coins issued in 2009 have now been in circulation for 15 years.