Web Directory: Commemorative coins

Euro gold and silver commemorative coins are special euro coins minted and issued by member states of the Eurozone, mainly in gold and silver, although other precious metals are also used on rare occasions. These special coins have a legal tender status only in Slovakia, unlike the normal issues of the Slovak euro coins, which are legal tender in every country of the Eurozone. This means that the commemorative coins made of gold and silver cannot be used as money in other countries. Furthermore, as their bullion value generally vastly exceeds their face value, these coins are not intended to be used as means of payment at all - although it remains possible. For this reason, they are usually named Collectors' coins.

Euro gold and silver commemorative coins are special euro coins minted and issued by member states of the Eurozone, mainly in gold and silver, although other precious metals are also used in rare occasions. Belgium was one of the first twelve countries in the Eurozone that introduced the euro (€) on 1 January 2002. Since then, the Belgian Royal Mint have been minting both normal issues of Belgian euro coins, which are intended for circulation, and commemorative euro coins in gold and silver.

€2 commemorative coins are special euro coins minted and issued by member states of the eurozone since 2004 as legal tender in all eurozone member states. Only the national obverse sides of the coins differ; the common reverse sides do not. The coins typically commemorate the anniversaries of historical events or draw attention to current events of special importance. In 2007, 2009, 2012 and 2015, there were common commemorative coins with only different national inscriptions. Up to 2015, two hundred and thirty variations of €2 commemorative coins have been minted – six in 2004, eight in 2005, seven in 2006, twenty in 2007 (including thirteen versions of the common issue), ten in 2008, twenty-five in 2009 (including sixteen versions of the common issue), twelve in 2010, sixteen in 2011, thirty in 2012 (including seventeen versions of the common issue), twenty-three in 2013, twenty-six in 2014 and forty-seven in 2015 (including nineteen versions of the common issue). Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, San Marino and the Vatican City are the only countries to have released at least one commemorative coin every year.

Commemorative coins are coins that were issued to commemorate some particular event or issue. Most world commemorative coins were issued from the 1960s onward, although there are numerous examples of commemorative coins of earlier date. Such coins have a distinct design with reference to the occasion on which they were issued. Many coins of this category serve as collectors items only, although some countries are also issuing commemorative coins for regular circulation. Vast numbers of thematic coins are continuously being issued, highlighting ancient monuments or sites, historical personalities, endangered species etc. While such thematic coins may or may not commemorate any particular event or jubilee, the distinction between commemorative coins and thematic coins is often blurred or ignored.

The Commemorative coins of Lithuania are minted by the Lithuanian mint (Lithuanian: Lietuvos monetų kalykla), headquartered in Vilnius, Lithuania.

The commemorative coins of Czechoslovakia were minted by State Bank of Czechoslovakia (in Czech Státní banka československá, in Slovak Štátná banka československá). They were legal tender not only in Czechoslovakia but in 1993–2000 in the Czech Republic too.

Commemorative coins of Costa Rica have been designed by the Central Bank of Costa Rica to celebrate special events. The following is a complete list of all commemorative coins issued by the BCCR.

A list of commemorative coins of Austria in schilling, minted by Münze Österreich.

San Marino is an enclave completely within Italy. With little or no resources, the tiny nation has made income selling stamps and coins to tourists. From 1950 through the adoption of the euro in 1999 (by law, 2002 de facto), legal tender coins with dozens of ever changing designs have been produced in abundance by the Italian mint in Rome. These coins have been for the most part numismatically worthless, except for some silver and gold commemoratives.

The Early United States commemorative coins traditionally begins with the 1892 Colombian Half dollar and extends through the 1954 Booker T. Washington issue. The profits from the sale of commemorative coins was often used to fund a specific project. Commemorative coins were a money raising mechanism that provided an alternative to raising taxes.

Commemorative coins have been issued by the Royal Mint in the United Kingdom since 1935. Initially they only came out to mark events of great interest, but since the turn of the millennium have been minted yearly. Until decimalisation crowns (five shilling coins) were used for this purpose as they were the highest denomination of the time, but due to inflation this rôle has been transferred to higher value coins. Crowns, £5 Coins and (until 1996) £2 Coins are non-circulating, although they are still legal tender. These denominations are only used for commemoratives. During the decimal era, crowns were converted to twenty-five pence.

Commemorative Greek drachma coins have been issued by the Bank of Greece throughout the 20th century. Early (1940–1967) coins were minted in Birmingham, Paris, Vienna, and Prague, but since 1978 all of Greece's commemorative coins have been minted in Athens.

List of commemorative coins issued from 1848 to present.

Commemorative coins in Poland are special coins minted by the Polish Mint and issued by the National Bank of Poland (the only issuer of the Polish coins). Each year several collector and commemorative coins are minted to mark political, historical, scientific, cultural, sporting, humanitarian and other similar events of general importance to Poland or with wider international significance. The material used for production of the commemorative coins is usually alloy of silver Ag 925, gold Au 900 or pure gold Au 999,9. Most of the commemorative coins have their equivalents in occasional coins of common use, minted from special brass called "Nordic Gold".

The Czech National Bank issues 200 / 500 Koruna (Kč) silver commemorative coins and golden commemorative coins of various denominations. The golden coins are issued in thematic sets – Bohemian crown set, Charles IV set, Ten centuries of architecture set, Industrial Heritage Sites set and Bridges in the Czech Republic set. In 2000 the special 2000 Kč silver coin with golden inlay and hologram was issued.

This is a list of commemorative coins issued by the Federal Republic of Germany. Those prior to 2002 were denominated in Deutsche Marks; subsequent ones have been denominated in euros.

This is a list of Commemorative and Jubilee coins issued by the Ukrainian government.

In 1972, the government of the Isle of Man, signed a long-term contract with the Pobjoy Mint of Tadworth, Surrey, England, to mint coins for the state. They have produced commemorative coinage.

Various commemorative coins denominated in Irish currency were issued up until 2002, when the Irish pound (IEP/IR£) came to an end and was superseded by the euro. Since then there have been Irish commemorative coins denominated in euro.

Euro gold and silver commemorative coins are special euro coins minted and issued by member states of the Eurozone, mainly in gold and silver, although other precious metals are also used in rare occasions. Greece was one of the first twelve countries in the Eurozone that introduced the euro (€) on 1 January 2002. Since 2003, the Mint of Greece have been minting both normal issues of Greek euro coins, which are intended for circulation, and commemorative euro coins in gold and silver.

The coins usually commemorate the anniversaries of historical events or draw attention to current events of special importance. Greece mints four of these coins on average per year, mainly in silver, with a typical face value of €10. However, to celebrate the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece minted almost three times more than normal number of coins in 2003 and 2004, in both gold and silver.

This article covers euro gold and silver commemorative coins issued in Germany. It also covers rare cases of collectors coins (coins not planned for normal circulation) minted using other precious metals. It does not cover either the German €2 commemorative coins or the Pre-Euro German Currencies.

Official Mint Sets & Hanukka Sets.

The introduction of euro coins in January 2002 has generated a variety of coin designs. The euro area countries have put euro coins in circulation with distinctive national symbols on their obverse side. The diversity of the coins' national sides is enhanced with the issuance of commemorative and collector coins by euro area countries.

The 2016 €10 silver proof coin is the first in a new five-year Europa Star silver coin programme commemorating the ‘Ages of Europe’. The 2016 theme is ‘Modern 20th Century Europe’ and is inspired by the architectural designs as featured on the €500 banknote. This coin is also the Central Bank of Ireland’s first collector coin to commemorate the achievements of an Irish woman.

Commemorative Coins : 2011 - present.

Commemorative Coins : 1971 - 1980.

Commemorative coins were released in the USSR between 1965 and 1991. Most of them were made of copper-nickel alloy, but there were also silver coins, gold coins, palladium coins and platinum coins. All of the coins were minted either by the Moscow Mint (Московский монетный двор (ММД)) or by the Leningrad Mint (Ленинградский монетный двор(ЛМД)). Certain parts of the mintage of almost each coin were minted using the proof coinage technology.

The United States resumed minting commemorative coins in 1982 for the 250th anniversary of the birth of George Washington. Modern commemoratives tend to be restricted to events, buildings and personalities of national or international importance. While silver dollars remain the traditional denomination, low-value circulating commemoratives have gained in popularity.

These coins commemorate events, anniversaries or important national and international personalities.

Each Member State of the Eurosystem is entitled to issue two €2 commemorative coins once a year. These coins have the same common side as normal €2 coins and a national side with a commemorative design.

This article covers euro gold and silver commemorative coins issued by Azienda Autonoma Di Stato Filatelica E Numismatica. It also covers rare cases of collectors coins (coins not planned for normal circulation) minted using other precious metals. It does not cover either the San Marino €2 commemorative coins or the Sammarinese scudo commemorative coins.

Commemorative coins are coins that were issued to commemorate some particular event or issue or issued on special occasions to commemorate occasions or services of national heroes or dignitaries who have rendered special services of great significance in the annals of National history.Many coins of this category serve as collectors items only, although some countries are also issuing commemorative coins for regular circulation. Commemorative coins are not part of circulation and are kept as a separate balance. On the advise of Government of Pakistan, the State Bank of Pakistan has issued the following commemorative coins on various occasions / events.

Bermuda has issued commemorative coins at various times. Most of these coins have been for the purpose of collecting, although Bermuda has also issued commemorative coins for regular circulation. All coins here were minted by the Royal Mint unless otherwise noted.

Commemorative Coins : 1958 - 1970.

The Royal Canadian Mint issued the first silver dollar in 1935 to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of King George V. The coin’s reverse design was sculpted by Emanuel Hahn and portrays a voyageur and an aboriginal paddling a birch-bark canoe. The faint lines in the background represent the Northern Lights. The voyageur design was used on the dollar until 1986. It was then replaced with the 1987 Canadian 1 dollar coin (Loonie). 1967 marked the end of the silver dollar as a business strike, or a coin issued for circulation. After 1967, the dollar coin was made of nickel, except for non-circulating commemorative issues for the collector market, which continue to contain silver.

This article covers euro gold and silver commemorative coins issued by the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland. It also covers rare cases of collectors coins (coins not planned for normal circulation) minted using other precious metals. It does not cover either the Irish €2 commemorative coins or the Irish Pound commemorative coins.

Commemorative Trade Coins : Sheqel Series (1981 - 1985).

Commemorative Coins.

Commemorative coins have been issued in Bulgaria since 1965 by the Bulgarian National Bank, headquartered in Sofia, and minted by the Bulgarian Mint (Bulgarian: Монетен двор).

The coin honours the spirit of Anzac that was formed 100 years ago on the shores of Gallipoli, and continues to live on today. This is the first time in New Zealand’s history that the Reserve Bank has released a colour commemorative circulating coin.

1 cent & 5 cents struck in Nickel-brass and the 10 cents & 25 cents struck in Copper-nickel. Coins are packaged in a fully illustrative blister pack.

Collectible coins are available for sale with cash, debit and credit card payments at the Central Bank of Belize headquarters.

Commemorative coins are coins that were issued to commemorate some particular event or issue. Indian commemorative coins were issued from the 1964s onwards. Such coins have a distinct design with reference to the occasion on which they were issued. Many coins of this category serve as collectors items only, although some are also issuing commemorative coins for regular circulation.Modern and Commemorative Indian Coins are very interesting to discuss because they cover many topics like Indian Independence Struggle, War, Peace, Wildlife, Vegetation, Great Personalities, Various Events and Organisations. The highest value coin is Rs. 1000 issued on the occasion of 1000 years of Brihadeeswarar Temple.

Each country may issue two commemorative coins per year. These coins have the same features and properties and the same common side as normal €2 coins. What makes them different is their commemorative design on the national side. Only the €2 denomination can be used for commemorative coins. They are legal tender throughout the euro area. That means they can be used – and must be accepted – just like any other euro coin.

Most of these coins commemorate the anniversaries of historical events or draw attention to current events of historic importance. The very first €2 commemorative coin was issued by Greece to commemorate the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004.

Aside from circulation coins, the RMA also issues commemorative coins which are also legal tender. Commemorative coins are produced in limited quantities and are issued to commemorate special events or persons and also to cater to the collectors.

During the past years the CBA issued, on behalf of the Government of Aruba, among others the following commemorative coins.

Mint Sets & Year Sets - Private Issues.

The United States has minted numerous commemorative coins in remembrance of particular persons, places, events, and institutions. These coins are legal tender but are not intended for general circulation.

Selling Gibraltar coins.

Commemorative coins can be issued to mark events of particular significance to Sweden. The issuance of commemorative coins is restricted.

Online store of The Bulgarian Mint, selling commemorative coins.

Information about commemorative coins issued by the Czech National Bank.

Commemorative Coins issued by the National Reserve Bank of Tonga.

Denmark has a tradition for issuing commemorative coins to mark special events in the Royal Family, e.g. accession to the throne, jubilees, weddings, silver and golden anniversaries and special birthdays.
Like the ordinary 10-krone and 20-krone coins, commemorative coins have a portrait of the monarch on the obverse, often a portrait designed for the occasion. Since the Queen’s 50th birthday in 1990, the royal commemorative coins have been issued as 20-krone coins put into general circulation and a special collectors' edition in silver. Originally, the silver coin was a 200-krone coin, but the silver commemorative coin issued to mark the Queen’s 70th birthday in 2010 was a 500-krone coin. On this occasion, a commemorative gold coin was also issued, as a novelty.

List of commemorative coins planned to be issued by the Bulgarian National Bank.

The following Commemorative Coins issued by the National Reserve Bank of Tonga can only be obtained by placing an order to the MDM Deutsche Munze.

List of commemorative coins minted by the Japan Mint, with specifications and mintage figures.

Pictures and descriptions of euro commemorative coins.

A catalogue of commemorative coins issued by the Bermuda Monetary Authority, with coin specifications and prices.

Commemorative Coins : 1981 - 1990.

Commemorative Coins : 1991 - 2000.

Commemorative Coins : 2001 - 2010.

Commemorative Trade Coins : Lira Series (1949 - 1980).

Commemorative Trade Coins : New Sheqel Series (1985 - present).