Slovakia Euro Coins

Slovakian euro coins, first issued for circulation on 1 January 2009, featuring three different designs. The selection process started in 2005, when an official public contest -in two round- for Slovak euro coin designs was held. The deadline for the first round was 31 January 2005, after which the ten top designers chosen by the National Bank of Slovakia (NBS) were invited to make plaster reliefs of their designs. In the second round, the NBS called a public vote conducted from 12 November until 20 November 2005 on the ten designs that were picked from the over 200 submissions. On 21 November 2005, the results were made public. More than 140,000 people participated in the vote; the most popular design was the Coat of arms of Slovakia, followed by the Krivan peak (25,000 votes) and the Bratislava Castle (22,000 votes).

The coins in a nominal value of 2 euro and 1 euro depict the "Double Cross in the middle of Three Hills" designed by Ivan Rehak. It is a shield sign of the state emblem, one of the state emblems of the Slovak Republic. It is situated on the circle surface and its background is created by a relief of rocks which express stability and strength of the State
The coins with a nominal value of 50, 20 and 10 euro cents depict the Bratislava Castle designed by Jan Cernaj and Pavol Karoly. It is characteristic for its dominant position above Bratislava - the capital of the Slovak Republic. It is a national monument and belongs to the best-known symbols of Bratislava and Slovakia as well. Within the castle depicted on the coins, there is a state emblem – one of the official state emblems of the Slovak Republic
Coins in a nominal value of 5, 2 and 1 euro cents depict the artistic design of Krivan designed by Drahomir Zobek. The Tatra mountain peak Krivan is connected with important historic events of the Slovak nation. As an object of national outings of Sturovci played an important role in the fight for national consciousness. Krivan is perceived as a symbol of High Tatras and also, in the broader sense, as a symbol of varied natural resources in Slovakia

After three years of reforms, on 1 April 2008, the NBS announced their plan for withdrawal, disposal and destruction of the Slovak koruna notes and coins. On 7 May 2008, the European Commission approved the application and asked member states to endorse the bid during the EU finance minister's meeting in July 2008. On 3 June 2008 European Union finance ministers gave Slovakia the green light to join the euro zone in 2009 while urging the country to be ready to fight inflation with tight fiscal policies. After the euro introduction on 1st of January 2009, it will still be possible to pay cash with the koruna banknotes and coins until 16th of January 2009. However, change will only be given back in euros. From the 17th of January 2009 onward, however, It will be possible to pay only in euros.

Slovakia's mint was tasked to produce some 500 million euro and cent coins. As a preparation for the change on January 1, starting from November 2008, these coins were distributed to businesses all over Slovakia. On 5 September 2008, the NBS announced that as part of the preparations for euro adoption, Slovakia will transport from Austria over €7 billion in banknotes and have €167 million minted in coins by the end of 2008 in order to pre-stock itself with the new currency.

The Slovakian €2 coin edge inscription:

Edge

"SLOVENSKA REPUBLIKA" with two stars and a linden leaf in the middle