Spain moved mountains economically to ensure membership of the euro. Between 1997 and 2000 annual real output growth
averaged more than 4 per cent creating 2 million new jobs that brought the unemployment rate down from 21.5 per
cent to 13.6 per cent. Once considered an economic backwater, Spain saw an unprecedented rise in its phone and
internet sectors. Spain was also one of the first countries to phase out its old currency after the
introduction of euro notes and coins in January 2002 - the peseta ceased to be legal tender on February 28.
In April 1998 the Spanish Prime Minister unveiled the designs chosen for the national side
of the Spanish coins: the 1 and 2 euro coins bear the effigy of King Juan Carlos I; the 10, 20
and 50 cent coins have the portrait of Miguel de Cervantes, the father of Spanish literature;
and the 1, 2 and 5 cent coins depict the Obradoiro façade of the Cathedral of Santiago de
Compostela, one of the masterpieces of Spanish baroque. The final images of the three designs
are the work of the Spanish Royal Mint's engravers: Garcilaso Rollán designed the 1, 2 and 5
cent coins; Begoña Castellanos the 10, 20 and 50 cent coins; and Luis José Díaz those of 1 and
2 euro.
All designs feature the 12 stars of the EU, the year of minting, and the word Espana
(Spanish for Spain). It should be noted that the overseas territory of the Canary Island is
also included in the Spanish Euro Zone. A map of this extended Euro Zone can be found at the
bottom of every Euro banknote. The Spanish 2 euro coin edge inscription is '2', followed by
two stars, repeated six times alternatly upright and inverted.

| Spain 2 euros - King Juan Carlos I de Borbon y Borbon
| Date | Mintage | Shop | | 2007 | unknown | Buy | | 2006 | 3,950,004 | Buy | | 2005 | 3,947,077 | Buy | | 2004 | 4,057,000 | Buy | | 2003 | 44,331,790 | Buy | | 2002 | 163,877,699 | Buy | | 2001 | 140,150,574 | Buy | | 2000 | 36,550,400 | Buy | | 1999 | 60,450,970 | Buy |
|

| Spain 1 euro - King Juan Carlos I de Borbon y Borbon
| Date | Mintage | Shop | | 2007 | unknown | Buy | | 2006 | 101,550,004 | Buy | | 2005 | 77,747,077 | Buy | | 2004 | 98,657,000 | Buy | | 2003 | 297,231,790 | Buy | | 2002 | 335,477,699 | Buy | | 2001 | 259,050,574 | View | | 2000 | 89,250,400 | Buy | | 1999 | 100,150,970 | View |
|

| Spain 50 cents - Miguel de Cervantes
| Date | Mintage | Shop | | 2007 | unknown | Buy | | 2006 | 3,950,004 | Buy | | 2005 | 3,847,077 | Buy | | 2004 | 4,357,000 | Buy | | 2003 | 5,831,790 | Buy | | 2002 | 9,677,699 | Buy | | 2001 | 351,050,574 | Buy | | 2000 | 519,550,400 | Buy | | 1999 | 370,950,970 | Buy |
|

| Spain 20 cents - Miguel de Cervantes
| Date | Mintage | Shop | | 2007 | unknown | Buy | | 2006 | 101,950,004 | Buy | | 2005 | 3,947,077 | Buy | | 2004 | 3,857,000 | Buy | | 2003 | 3,931,790 | Buy | | 2002 | 91,377,699 | Buy | | 2001 | 146,550,574 | Buy | | 2000 | 29,250,400 | Buy | | 1999 | 762,250,970 | Buy |
|

| Spain 10 cents - Miguel de Cervantes
| Date | Mintage | Shop | | 2007 | unknown | Buy | | 2006 | 91,750,004 | Buy | | 2005 | 321,247,077 | Buy | | 2004 | 121,857,000 | Buy | | 2003 | 292,331,790 | Buy | | 2002 | 112,977,699 | Buy | | 2001 | 160,050,574 | Buy | | 2000 | 243,850,400 | Buy | | 1999 | 588,050,970 | Buy |
|

| Spain 5 cents - The Cathedral Santiago de Compostela
| Date | Mintage | Shop | | 2007 | unknown | Buy | | 2006 | 142,750,004 | Buy | | 2005 | 411,347,077 | Buy | | 2004 | 258,657,000 | Buy | | 2003 | 327,431,790 | Buy | | 2002 | 8,177,699 | Buy | | 2001 | 216,050,574 | Buy | | 2000 | 399,850,400 | Buy | | 1999 | 483,450,970 | Buy |
|

| Spain 2 cents - The Cathedral Santiago de Compostela
| Date | Mintage | Shop | | 2007 | unknown | Buy | | 2006 | 262,150,004 | View | | 2005 | 275,047,077 | Buy | | 2004 | 206,657,000 | Buy | | 2003 | 31,431,790 | Buy | | 2002 | 3,977,699 | Buy | | 2001 | 463,050,574 | View | | 2000 | 711,250,400 | View | | 1999 | 291,650,970 | View |
|

| Spain 1 cent - The Cathedral Santiago de Compostela
| Date | Mintage | Shop | | 2007 | unknown | View | | 2006 | 383,850,004 | View | | 2005 | 444,147,077 | View | | 2004 | 206,657,000 | View | | 2003 | 670,331,790 | View | | 2002 | 140,977,699 | View | | 2001 | 130,850,574 | View | | 2000 | 83,350,400 | Buy | | 1999 | 720,950,970 | View |
|