2 euro Germany 2006, Holstentor in Lübeck - Schleswig-Holstein

German commemorative 2 euro coins - Schleswig Holstein from the "Bundesländer" series

Commemorative 2 euro coins from Germany

   In 2006 Germany began issuing an annual series of 2 euro commemorative coins with one new design per year. The series of coins will reflect the rotation of the presidency of the “Bundesrat”, or the upper chamber of the National German Parliament.

Description: The inner part of the coin shows a representation of the Holstentor, the symbol of the town of Lübeck, appears on this coin commemorating the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein. The word 'Schleswig-Holstein' appears underneath the gate at the bottom of the inner part. The engraver's initials 'HH' are depicted on the right hand side of the design; the mintmark appears on the left hand side of the design. The twelve stars of the European Union form a semicircle on the upper part of the outer ring, interrupted by the year of mintage '2006'at the top of the coin. The words "Bundesrepublik Deutschland" form a semicircle on the lower part of the outer ring.

2 euro Belgium 2006, Renovation of the Atomium in Brussels

Belgian commemorative 2 euro coins 2006 - Atomium

Commemorative 2 euro coins from Belgium

Description: The coin shows the Atomium in the centre part, with the mint marks to the lower right and left of it. The designer's initials (LL) are to the left. The letter B for Belgium is written at the top of the outer ring, and the year mark at the bottom; the twelve stars of the European Union are positioned between the year mark and the inscription at the top, in two groups of six stars each.

2 euro Finland 2006, 1st Centenary of the Introduction of Universal and Equal Suffrage

Finnish commemorative 2 euro coins, 100 years of universal and equal suffrage in Finland

Commemorative 2 euro coins from Finland

Description: The central part of the coin shows two faces – one male, one female; one upright, one inverted – to commemorate the granting of equal suffrage to women in Finland in 1906, which at the same time became the first country to allow women to also stand for election. Two capital "M"s appear to the left of each face, one of them the mint mark and the other one the artist's initial. On the left side, the date of the introduction of universal and equal suffrage in Finland (1. 10. 1906) is inscribed, while the right side of the coin contains the year mark and the country abbreviation (20 FI 06). The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin.

2 euro Italy 2006, XX Winter Olympic Games of Turin 2006

Italian commemorative 2 euro coins - XX Olympic Winter Games in Turin 2006

Commemorative 2 euro coins from Italy

Description: The coin depicts a racing skier and the visitor attraction of Turin and an image of Turin's landmark Mole Antonelliana building (which incidentally is also depicted on the Italian 2 cent coin), together with a large number of inscriptions: above the skier's head, GIOCHI INVERNALI ("Winter Games"); below the tower, the name of the host city TORINO; beside the skier's right thigh, the engraver's initials (MCC); also to the right of the skier, the year mark (written vertically); and finally, to the right of the tower, the monogram of the Italian Republic (RI) and the mint mark (R). The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin.

2 euro Luxembourg 2006, 25th birthday of Grand Duke Guillaume, heir to the throne

2 euro San Marino 2006, 500th Anniversary of the Death of Christopher Columbus

Sammarinese commemorative 2 euro coins - 5th centenary of Christopher Columbus’s death

Commemorative 2 euro coins from San Marino

Description: A portrait of Christopher Columbus (looking to the right) before a background of the three caravels (the Niña, the Pinta and the Santa María), which he used in his first voyage across the Atlantic Ocean in 1492, forms the central part of the coin's design. At the top of the inner part is the inscription SAN MARINO together with a compass rose, in the centre is the mint mark R, and at the bottom is a cartouche containing the inscription 1506–2006 and the initials of the designer (LDS). The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin.

2 euro Vatican City 2006, 500th Anniversary of the Swiss Guard

€2 commemorative coins - Vatican City 2006, 5th centenary of the Pontifical Swiss Guard. 

Commemorative 2 euro coins from Vatican City

Description: The centre part of the coin features a member of the Swiss Guard taking his oath on the flag of the Swiss Guard, facing the right side. In the top part of the inner circle, the inscription GUARDIA SVIZZERA PONTIFICIA surrounds the guard, while the bottom part carries the inscription CITTÁ DEL VATICANO. The guard is surrounded by four other inscriptions, with the year 1506 and the signature of the designer O. ROSSI to his left and the year mark 2006 and the mint mark R to his right. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin.