Kick off the 2023 France Rugby World Cup with this 2 Euro coin!

This year, for the first time ever, the Rugby World Cup will take place entirely in France. To celebrate the most prestigious rugby tournament in the world, Monnaie De Paris have commissioned the release of a BRAND NEW 2 Euro coin!

2023 France Rugby World Cup 2 Euro
2023 France Rugby World Cup 2 Euro

A winning design

The obverse design features a rugby player clutching the ball, sprinting across the globe under a starry sky. The official Rugby World Cup France 2023 logo also features on the coin. The reverse bears the 2 Euro denomination and the outline of the European continent.

2023 France Rugby World Cup 2 Euro obverse
2023 France Rugby World Cup 2 Euro obverse

Own a piece of the Rugby World Cup

Since the creation of the first tournament in 1987, the Rugby World Cup has served as the pinnacle of sporting excellence. As the most prestigious rugby competition in the world, to win this competition is considered the ultimate summit in rugby.

What’s more, the country that emerges triumphant not only earns the coveted title, but also etches its name in sporting history.

2023 France Rugby World Cup obverse and reverse
2023 France Rugby World Cup obverse and reverse

Therefore, it’s only fitting that a brand new 2 Euro coin is issued to pay tribute to this iconic and vastly historic sporting event.

We only have a small allocation available, so these coins won’t be around for long. Secure yours here today >>

Both new and seasoned Change Checkers will recognise the vast potential held within this coin.

Sporting coins prove time and again to be hugely popular amongst collectors, from the 2011 Olympic 50ps to newer issues such as the 2023 Manx Grand Prix £2.

2023 Isle of Man Manx Grand Prix £2
2023 Isle of Man Manx Grand Prix £2
A selection of 2011 Olympic 50p coins
A selection of 2011 UK Olympic 50p coins

The Olympic 50ps were issued in 2011 to commemorate the Olympic Games being held in London, with each 50p in the 29-coin series representing a different sport.

Still today, 12 years later, the Olympic 50ps rank as some of the most sought-after coins on our Scarcity Index.

We’ve previously seen coins issued to celebrate specific sports such as the 2022 UK FA Cup £2 for football and the 1999 UK Rugby World Cup £2 which was issued to commemorate the tournament being hosted by the UK – so it’s not the first time that the sport has been celebrated on a coin!

2022 UK FA Cup £2
2022 UK FA Cup £2
1999 UK Rugby World Cup £2

A must-have for any sports enthusiast

Click here to secure your 2023 France Rugby World Cup 2 Euro for just £5.99 (+p&p) >>

75th Anniversary of VE Day marked by FIVE world-renowned Mints

2020 marked the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, and the official end of the Second World War.

Following the Allies’ acceptance of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender on the 8th May 1945, the war in Europe had finally come to a close after a long five years of conflict.

Most UK collectors will be familiar with the United Kingdom 75th Anniversary of Victory in Europe Day £2 coin issued earlier this year to commemorate the historic event.

However, Allied Nations across the globe have been commemorating 75 years since the end of the Second World War and this important anniversary has been marked with unique coin issues from some of the world’s most renowned Mints.

Coins issued by the Netherlands, Canada, France, and Belgium, in addition to the UK £2, have been brought together for the first time in the remarkable 75th Anniversary of VE Day Allied Nations Coin Pack. 

75th Anniversary of VE Day Allied Nations Coin Pack

Featuring FIVE carefully chosen commemorative coins from world renowned Mints and including The Royal Mint’s 75th Anniversary of VE Day £2 coin as the centrepiece, this limited edition Commemorative Coin Pack has been released JUST for Change Checkers.

The coins included with this extraordinary set are:

United Kingdom £2

2020 UK Victory in Europe £2

This brand new United Kingdom £2 coin by Royal Mint designer Dominique Evans features a woman holding a newspaper aloft in crowd of celebrating people, set against a backdrop of the word ‘VICTORY’. The edge inscription reads ‘JUST TRIUMPH AND PROUD SORROW’.

Canada $2

2020 Canada Victory $2

As a tribute to the fallen and a promise to never forget, Canada have issued a commemorative $2 coin marking the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. This coin re-creates the iconic Victory Nickel design on a brand new $2 coin.

Belgium 2.5 Euro

2020 Belgium 2.5 Euro

The Royal Mint of Belgium issued this 2.5 Euro coin designed by Luc Luycx to show Europe lit with fireworks in honor of this 75th anniversary. The reverse shows the newly liberated Brussels on 4th September 1944.

This coin is limited to a maximum circulation of 50,000 pieces worldwide.

Netherlands 5 Euro

Although part of the Netherlands had already been liberated in 1944, it wasn’t until the 5th May 1945 that the whole of the Netherlands was allowed to live in freedom. This 5 Euro is the official commemorative coin to mark such an important moment in history and has been designed by artist Marijke van Warmerdam.

Only 15,000 Silver-Plated pieces are available worldwide!

France 2 Euro

Renowned French army officer and statesman, Charles de Gaulle led the Free French Forces against Nazi Germany in World War II. This 2 Euro coin features two profiles of de Gaulle as both the revered army general during the war, and as President of France during his second term. A Lorraine cross also features on the design as the symbol of free France, chosen by General de Gaulle.


All of these incredible coins come presented in the Change Checker 75th Anniversary of VE Day Coin Pack. Which one is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below!


Secure the Limited Edition 75th Anniversary of VE Day Coin Pack to your Collection Today!

Secure the 75th Anniversary of VE Day Coin Pack here for £45 (+p&p) >>

Due to the difficulty of sourcing these coins, we have only a limited number of these extraordinary packs available!

To ensure you don’t miss out on this special anniversary year, please secure your Change Checker 75th Anniversary of VE Day Allied Nations Coin Pack here >>

Fascinating Finds: a road trip through the pockets of the Eurozone

Who else has started drawing up a destination wish-list and going holiday window shopping in preparation for this year’s adventures?

I know I certainly can’t wait for the holiday season and for me, one of the best things about going abroad is the discovery and experience of new cultures, and that includes foreign currency. As a Change Checker, I’m sure you’ll love looking at the different designs as much as I do, and since each currency is unique to its country, you’ll find there is always a story to tell from the change you find abroad.

In fact, we’ve come across some truly fascinating coins from Europe, so if you’re like me and are already planning your next getaway, make sure you keep an eye out for some of these gems when you jet off…

Spain

An ever popular tourist destination for us Brits is Spain, and I’m sure that the Spanish euro is one that many Change Checkers would recognise. All euros issued before 2015 feature the portrait of King Juan Carlos I who reigned as the King of Spain from 1975 until his abdication in 2014 when his son Felipe VI took over the royal duties. King Juan Carlos I was an interesting Head of State because he was not born in the country he eventually came to rule, his family having been exiled to Italy due to the abolition of the Spanish Monarchy in 1931. However, following a coup d’état in 1936 the dictator Generalísimo Francisco Franco took control of the Spanish government, and 11 years later reaffirmed Spain’s status as a Monarchy. This 2009 2 euro coin designed by Luiz José Diaz depicts King Juan Carlos I encircled by the lettering “ESPAÑA” and the twelve stars of Europe.

2009 Spanish 2 Euro

Portugal

Portuguese euros are in a league of their own as, unusually, they follow a theme (with the exception of commemorative euros) and the designs do not vary from year to year. Throughout Portuguese coinage you will find various royal seals of the past: the cross of Knight Templar from 1134, the Rota with cross from 1142 and the Compass rose from 1144, each featuring at the centre of the copper covered steel coins (1, 2 and 5 cents), Nordic gold coins (10, 20, 50 cents) and bi-metallic coins (1 and 2 euros) respectively. What is also distinct about Portuguese euros is that they feature a second circle of emblems below the 12-star requirement. This second ring is made up of 7 castle towers and 5 shields, to symbolise dialogue, the exchanging of values and the dynamics of building Europe. This additional design feature was deliberately added as a point of difference in comparison with other Eurozone coinage.

Portuguese 50-cent coin

France

With 19 out of the 28 EU member countries using the euro, and each country minting its own unique designs, you’re bound to come across some weird and wonderful looking coins, many of which have been chosen or designed by the public. The French 1 and 2 euro coins are stunning examples of this. 1,200 applicants submitted their designs for the obverse and the successful entry was chosen by a jury. The winning entry by Joaquim Jimenez features a stylised tree in a hexagon, framed by the motto of the French revolution: ‘liberté, égalité, fraternité’.

2000 French 1 euro

 

Italy

Similar to their French neighbours, the public had a hand in choosing the designs for the Italian euros, with each denomination featuring a different image. Designs featuring works by famous Italian artists were scrutinised by a technical and artistic committee before being presented to the public to vote. However, in a twist of events during the selection process, the 1 euro coin designs were withdrawn and the former economy minister Carlo Azeglia Ciampi took it upon himself to make an executive decision. He decided Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man was the best option, reasoning that the design represents the ‘coin to service of Man’ as opposed to ‘Man to the service of money’.

2002 Italian 1 euro

Some of the most iconic pieces of art featured in winning designs include Botticelli’s Birth of Venus on the 10 cent coin, the Equestrian Statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius on the 50 cent coin and the 2 euro coin features a portrait of Dante Alighieri from Raphaël’s La disputa del sacramento (Disputation of the Sacrament) which you can find in the Pope Julius II Wing of the Vatican City Palace.

2008 Italian 2 euro and 2005 Italian 50 cent

If you’re considering popping to the Vatican Palace to see the Raphaël masterpiece, you might want to try and track down some of the most coveted euros – Vatican euros. Euros issued by the Philatelic and Numismatic Office of the Vatican City State are easily some of the rarest euros you may come across, especially the 1 and 2 euro coins issued in 2011, as only 6,000 coins were minted! Vatican euros are minted with collectors in mind rather than for commercial use, and with the number of coins minted being so small, the collector value is incredibly high. You’re very lucky if you find one of these in your pocket!

Netherlands

Dutch euros are unique in the sense that they only bear one motif, that of the reigning monarch. The first generation euros, issued until 2013, feature the effigy of Queen Beatrix. It is customary in the Netherlands to change the direction the portrait of the monarch is facing whenever a new monarch ascends the throne, so Queen Beatrix can be seen looking to the left whilst the image of King Willem-Alexander featured on second generation euros from 2014 onwards faces right.

A special ‘first’ to feature in this list is the 2003 1 euro coin from the Netherlands, which although currently in circulation is considered to be part of the first generation euro introduced in 1999. What’s interesting about this coin’s design is that at the time they were struck the design satisfied the basic euro coin requirements of having 12 stars arranged anywhere on the obverse, but this changed shortly after the coins entered circulation when new, more definitive design requirements were enforced. All second generation designs required the 12 stars to be spaced evenly apart and in a circular shape in the outer ring, mimicking the shape of the European flag. On the Dutch 2003 1 Euro you’ll notice the stars are compressed onto the left-side of the coin in a semicircle, curving around the profile of Queen Beatrix, rather than forming a full circle to meet the new design specifications.

2003 Netherlands 1 euro

Likewise, all other Dutch coins issued at the same time are considered to be first generation due to their designs which clearly flout the requirements. Most notably, on the 50 cent coin you can see 12 small stars circling the effigy of Queen Beatrix at the centre of the coin, and an inscription reading ‘Koning der Nederlanden’ (Kingdom of the Netherlands) with the name of the Queen and the year of issue engraved where the 12 stars should be (according to the standard guidelines).  

2003 Netherlands 50 cent

Germany

We’ll finish our trip through the pockets of the Eurozone in Germany, where there are several coins of note, including the 1 and 2 euro. These euros feature The Federal Eagle, which holds high symbolic value in Germany. The Federal Eagle is the oldest existing state symbol in Europe and one of the oldest insignia in the world, dating back to Germanic tribes and the Romans who saw the eagle as an incarnation of the god Odin, the supreme deity of vitality and the sun. The symbol was adopted by many states and noble houses in their coat of arms, resulting in a long tradition in Germany. Unlike euros issued in other countries, German euros carry the mintmark of the region where they are minted: ‘A’ for Berlin, ‘D’ for Munich, ‘F’ for Stuttgart, ‘G’ for Karlsruhe and ‘J’ for Hamburg.

2004 German 1 euro

Another main symbol of Germany is The Brandenburg Gate. Located to the west in Berlin it symbolises both the division and subsequent unification of the country, because when built the Berlin Wall cut off access to the gate for both West and East Germany. This image can be found on the German Nordic gold coins – the 10, 20 and 50 cents. The perspective of the design emphasises the opening of the gate, truly highlighting the unity and peace between Germany and Europe.

2004 German 50 cent

Our final destination holds by far some of the most unusual euros to be circulated, including the 2016 German 5 euro. This euro made numismatic history when it was issued, as it is not only the first commemorative 5 euro to be issued by Germany, but it is also the first coin in history to feature a brand new material in the minting process – a translucent polymer.

German 5 euro

The coin features a millimetre-fine blue translucent ring made from polymer on its bi-metal surface, and this innovative technology makes it the first coin to keep up with banknotes in terms of counterfeit prevention. Remarkably the colour of the blue Polymer ring is different for each of the 5 regional mints, varying from light blue to a very dark blue. 10 years of research went in to producing this coin, and has since paved the way for a collectable series of German 5 euro coins based on the ‘climate zones of Earth’ to be issued over 5 years using the same minting techniques to produce a different coloured ring for each coin.

Error coins and rarities

In Italy in 2002, 7,000 1-cent Mole Antonelliana error coins were struck on 2-cent blanks. These rare error coins have been known to sell for thousands of euros, with one bidding war reaching the dizzying heights of €6,600 back in 2013!

2002 1-cent Italian error coin. Credit: italymagazine.com

2002 was also the year that France minted just 9,000 2-cent coins featuring  a young feminine Marianne, known as ‘the national emblem of France’ and a ‘personification of Liberty and Reason’. These rare coins are easily overlooked, but with so few of them in circulation they are certainly worth keeping your eyes peeled for.

2002 France 2-cent coin. Credit: fleur-de-coin.com

Other coins with very low mintage figures include the 2011 Greek 2 euro, the 2008 German 5-cent, the 2013 Cyprus 1 euro and the 2002 Belgium 10-cent.

An interesting series of 5 euro coins to look out for comes from Germany and was created to reflect Earth’s climatic zones with the use of coloured plastic polymer rings to represent each zone. The first coin was issued in 2017 and the series will continue releasing one coin per year until 2021.

German 5 euros. Credit: coincollectionmarket.com

I hope you’ve enjoyed our little road trip through Europe and some of the fascinating finds you could discover in your change on your next trip abroad, but don’t worry Change Checkers, as you don’t have to wait until your next holiday to snap up some of these fascinating euros…


Secure 10 fascinating finds from the Change Checker Euro Collection

This set of 10 commemorative coins from all over Europe includes:

  • Italian 2 Euro – featuring poet Dante Alighieri
  • Spanish 2 Euro – featuring the King of Spain Juan Carlos
  • Dutch 1 Euro – featuring a half side portrait of Queen Beatrix
  • German 1 Euro – featuring an Eagle, the symbol of German sovereignty
  • Italian 1 Euro – featuring the famous drawing by Leonard da Vinci
  • French 1 Euro – featuring the Liberte Egalite Fraternité (Tree of life)
  • Dutch 50 cent – featuring Queen Beatrix
  • German 50-Cent – featuring Brandenburg Gate
  • Portuguese 50-Cent – featuring the Coat of Arms and castles
  • Italian 50-Cent – featuring the Italian Emperor Marcus Aurelius

Order your Change Checker Euro Collection today >>