Spain Euro Coins
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 facade 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 Rollan designed the 1, 2 and 5
cent coins; Begona Castellanos the 10, 20 and 50 cent coins; and Luis Jose Diaz 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). The Spanish Euro Zone includes the overseas territory of the Canary Island.
The Spanish 2 euro coin edge inscription
| Edge |
|---|
 |
| |
| The sequence "2 * *" repeated six times alternately upright and inverted |
Mintmarks on Spanish euro coins