It’s hard to make change when you’re out of coins, even if they’re the tiny 1 and 2-cent Euro coins some of us think of as ‘scrap metal.’
Portugal recently found itself in that situation, and had to import 272 million of the little coins from Ireland, which apparently had built up a surplus of them in its national pants pockets and change purses.
In return, Portugal’s Central Bank sold off 2.1 million extra 2-Euro coins it had in reserve.
Although Euro coins circulate freely across the Eurozone, only one side, the front, is a standardized design. Within limits, the back is a canvas free for each nation to indulge its fantasy, as long as it includes the 12 stars of the EU, the engravers initials and year of issue.
Trivia for coin freaks: Four non-members of the Eurozone also have the right to issue ‘national’ Euro coins, although their coins are almost never put into circulation. Instead, the countries involved sell them directly into the coin collecting trade, usually at prices higher than the face value. They are Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City.
