€2 commemorative coins - 2009

Feature: 20th anniversary of 17 November 1989 (Day of the fight for freedom and democracy)

Description: The coin shows a stylised bell with keys serving as clappers. It recalls the demonstration on 17 November 1989 when protesters jangled their keys to symbolise the unlocking of doors, an event which marked the beginning of the ‘Velvet Revolution’ in Czechoslovakia, as it then was. Under the bell are the artist’s mark and the mint mark of Mincovňa Kremnica (the Slovak mint). Encircling the bell are the legend ‘17. NOVEMBER SLOBODA DEMOKRACIA’, the dates ‘1989-2009’ and the name of the issuing country, ‘SLOVENSKO’. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European Union.

Issuing volume: 1 million coins

Issuing date: November 2009

Feature: 200th anniversary of Finnish autonomy and Porvoo Diet

Description: The first Diet of Finland met in 1809 in Porvoo, so the coin shows a profile of Porvoo cathedral, where the opening ceremony took place, and ‘1809’ written in stylised numbering above. To its left is the country code, ‘FI’, and to its right is the year of issue, ‘2009’. The 12 stars of the European Union appear on the outer ring.

Issuing volume: 1.6 million coins

Issuing date: October 2009

Feature: International Year of Astronomy

Description: This coin was issued on the occasion of the International Year of Astronomy. The inner part of the coin depicts an allegory of the birth of the stars and planets together with several astronomical instruments. The design is inspired by Michelangelo's frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.

Issuing volume: 106,000 coins

Issuing date: October 2009

Feature: 200th anniversary of Louis Braille’s birth

Description: The coin depicts a hand reading an open book by touch. The index finger points at a vertical inscription ‘LOUIS BRAILLE 1809-2009’ and two birds in flight above the hand symbolise freedom of knowledge. The monogram of the Italian Republic, ‘RI’, is at the top right, while the mint mark ‘R’ is at the bottom right. Braille’s name is written under the book in the alphabet that he invented. At the very bottom are the initials ‘MCC’ of the artist Maria Carmela Colaneri. The 12 stars of the European Union are shown on the outer ring.

Issuing volume: 2 million coins

Issuing date: October 2009

Feature: 200th anniversary of Louis Braille’s birth

Description: The coin features a portrait of Louis Braille with his initials, L and B, in the alphabet that he designed. His name appears above the portrait and, below it, the code of the issuing country, ‘BE’ and the dates ‘1809’ and ‘2009’. To the left and right respectively are the mint mark and the signature mark of the Master of the Mint. The coin’s outer ring shows the 12 stars of the European Union.

Issuing volume: 5 million coins

Issuing date: September 2009

Feature: 2nd Lusophone Games

Description: The coin was issued to mark the games held for Portuguese-speaking countries. It depicts a gymnast swirling a long ribbon. The Portuguese coat of arms appears at the top together with the name of the issuing country ‘PORTUGAL’. At the bottom, the legend ‘2.^os JOGOS DA LUSOFONIA LISBOA’ is inscribed between the initials ‘INCM’ on the left and the artist's name ‘J. AURÉLIO’ on the right. The year ‘2009’ appears above the gymnast. The coin's outer ring shows the 12 stars of the European Union on a background of concentric circular lines.

Issuing volume: 1.25 million coins

Issuing date: June 2009

Feature: European Year of Creativity and Innovation

Description: The coin shows some symbols of scientific research: a book, a compass, a test tube and a flask. On the left are the three emblematic feathers of the Republic of San Marino. On the right are the year ‘2009’ and the mint mark ‘R’. Above is the legend ‘CREATIVITÀ INNOVAZIONE’. Below are the name of the issuing country ‘SAN MARINO’ and the artist’s initials ‘A.M.’. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European Union.

Issuing volume: 130,000 coins

Issuing date: May 2009

Feature: Federal state of Saarland

Description: The coin features the Ludwigskirche, a symbol of Saarbrücken, the capital of the Saarland. It shows the distinctive east facade and bell tower of the church, with the word ‘SAARLAND’ and ‘G’, a mint mark, underneath. It was designed by Friedrich Brenner, whose initials appear to the right of the image. The year of mintage, 2009, the 12 stars of the European Union and the words ‘BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND’ are depicted on the outer ring.

Issuing volume: 30 million coins

Issuing date: February 2009

Feature: 10th anniversary of Economic and Monetary Union

Description: The coin shows a stick figure which merges into the € symbol. It seeks to convey the idea of the single currency and, by extension, Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) being the latest step in Europe’s long history of trade and economic integration. The coin is issued by each euro area country and shows the name of the country as well as the legend ‘EMU 1999-2009’ in the respective language(s). The design was chosen out of a shortlist of five by members of the public across the European Union voting online. It was created by George Stamatopoulos, a sculptor from the Minting department at the Bank of Greece. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.

Issuing volume: varies from country to country

Issuing date: January 2009

Feature: Grand-Duke Henri and Grand-Duchess Charlotte

Description: The coin features Grand-Duke Henri and Grand-Duchess Charlotte. To the right of the image, placed vertically, are the word ‘LËTZEBUERG’ and the year ‘2009’, flanked by the mintmaster’s mark and the mint mark. The outer ring of the coin shows the 12 stars of the European Union.

Issuing volume: 1.4 million coins

Issuing date: January 2009