French commemorative €2 coins 2008, French Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2008
Commemorative 2 euro coins from France
Description of the design: The inner part of the coin features the following inscription: ‘2008 PRÉSIDENCE FRANÇAISE UNION EUROPÉENNE RF’. The currency mark and the mintmaster's mark are located below, to the left and the right respectively. The coin's outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.
Reverse: left from the coin centre face value: 2, on the right inscription: EURO; in the background of the inscription a map of Europe; in the background of the map vertically six parallel lines ending on both sides with five-pointed stars (the reverse is common for all euro coins)
Issuing volume: 20 million coins
Date of issue: July 2008
Face value: 2 euro
Diameter: 25.75 mm
Thickness: 2.2 mm
Weight: 8.5 gr
Composition: BiAlloy (Nk/Ng), ring Cupronickel (75% copper - 25% nickel clad on nickel core), center Nickel brass (75% copper - 20% zinc - 5% nickel)
Design: Philippe Starck is credited with the design of the French 2008 €2 Euro Commemorative coin.
€2 Edge Inscription: The French €2 coin edge inscription is 2, followed by two stars, repeated six times alternately upright and inverted.
Mint Location: Monnaie de Paris (Paris Mint), in Pessac, France.
Mint Marks: Mintmark of the Paris Mint: a cornucopia. Located at the bottom center left, inner circle.
Mint Master Marks: Paris Mint director, Hubert Larivière: image comprised of a hunting horn, a wave and a fish. Located at the bottom center right, inner circle.
National Identification: Letters: 'RF'; République française (Republic of France).
Notes: This is the first €2 Commemorative Issue for France.
Presidency of the Council of the European Union
The Presidency of the Council of the European Union is responsible for the functioning of the Council of the European Union, the upper house of the EU legislature. It rotates among the member states of the EU every six months. The presidency is not an individual, but rather the position is held by a national government. It is sometimes incorrectly referred to as the President of the European Union. The presidency's function is to chair meetings of the Council, determine its agendas, set a work programme and facilitate dialogue both at Council meetings and with other EU institutions.