2 Euro commemorative coins Andorra

Andorra

2 Euro

C o m m e m o r a t i v e C o i n s

Andorra
The edge lettering of the Andorran 2‐euro‐commemorative coins is :
Image	Country		Date	Feature	Ref.	Volume
🔎		Andorra	29 Feb. 2016	20th anniversary of Membership to the Council of Europe	20001 20002 20005	105,000	•
	Description : Italian coin designer Orietta Rossi designed the first Andorran €2 commemorative coin celebrating Andorra's 20 years of membership of the Council of Europe. The coin shows the coat of arms of Andorra with the Latin motto "VIRTVS VNITA FORTIOR" (Virtus unita fortior, United Virtue is stronger). Shown on the coat of arms is the mitre and crosier of the Bishop of Urgell, Prince of Andorra together with three stakes taken from of the coat of arms of Foix and four of Catalonia respectively, there are also the two cows taken from the flag of the Counts of Béarn. At the top of the coin is "ANDORRA AL CONSELL D'EUROPA" (Andorra member of the Council of Europe), next to the coat of arms is the number "20" which has the twelve European stars within the zero, and below it the year of issue "2014". Andorran coins are minted alternately in the countries of the Princes of Andorra, in 2014 it was the turn of the Royal Mint Real Casa de la Moneda in Madrid. Due to organisational problems the coin could not be issued until 2016.

🔎		Andorra	18 Jul. 2016	25th anniversary of signing the Customs Agreement with the EU	20001 20002 20005	85,000	•
	Description : The coin commemorates the 25th anniversary of the signing of the customs agreement with the European Union and was designed by the Ateliers de Gravure of the Monnaie de Paris. It shows the outline of the Principality and within it the coat of arms of Andorra with the Latin motto "VIRTVS VNITA FORTIOR" (Virtus unita fortior, United Virtue is stronger). Shown on the coat of arms is the mitre and crosier of the Bishop of Urgell, Prince of Andorra together with three stakes of the coat of arms of Foix and four of Catalonia respectively, and the two cows taken from the flag of the Counts of Béarn. Below them are two arrows running in opposite directions symbolise the customs agreement between Andorra and the EU, and are enscribed "1990 ANDORRA" and "2015". The semi‐circular two‐line inscription running from the top to the middle of the coin reads "25è aniversari de la Signatura de l'Acord Duaner amb la Unió Europea" (25 anniversary of signing the customs agreement with the European Union). Andorran coins are minted alternately in the countries of the Princes of Andorra; in 2015 this was the turn of the Monnaie de Paris in Pessac. Due to organisational problems, the coin could not be issued until 2016.

🔎		Andorra	18 Jul. 2016	30th anniversary of 18 becoming the legal age	20001 20002 20005	85,000	•
	Description : In 1985 in Andorra 18 became the age of majority with the associated political rights for men and women. The coin, designed by the Italian designer Orietta Rossi, depicts a young person voting and inserting the ballot marked "ANDORRA" into the ballot box. At the top of the coin are the years "1985" and "2015". The inscription around the outside of the motif reads "30è ANIVERSARI MAJORIA D'EDAT ALS 18 ANYS" (30th anniversary of 18 becoming the legal age). Andorran coins are minted alternately in the countries of the Princes of Andorra; in 2015 it was the turn of the Monnaie de Paris in Pessac. Due to organisational problems the coin could not be issued until 2016.

🔎		Andorra	01 Jun. 2017	25th anniversary of Andorran Radio and Television	20001 20002 20005	85,000	•
	Description : The coin motif, designed by the Fábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre (FNMT) part of the Royal Mint Real Casa de la Moneda in Madrid, shows a microphone and an antenna surrounded by four concentric lines. Around the outside of the motif are the words "25è ANIVERSARI DE RÀDIO I TELEVISIÓ D'ANDORRA" (25th anniversary of Andorran radio and television) and at the top of the coin the year of issue "2016" and the name of the issuing country "ANDORRA". The coin commemorates the 25th anniversary of the foundation of Public Radio and Television of Andorra ("RTVA") and thus the beginning of the broadcasting in Andorra. Andorran coins will be minted alternately in the countries of the Princes of Andorra; in 2016 it was the turn of the Royal Mint Real Casa de la Moneda in Madrid. Due to organisational problems the coin could not be issued until 2017.

🔎		Andorra	01 Jun. 2017	150th anniversary of the New Reform 1866	20001 20002 20005	85,000	•
	Description : This coin commemorates the reform decree initiated by Guillem d'Areny Plandolit (1822‐1876), which enabled the former aristocratic oligarchy to be replaced by the "General Council of the Valleys" in 1866. This was one of the most important milestones in the country's history, which heralded a social and political change in the Principality of Andorra. The coin motif, designed by the Fábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre (FNMT) part of the Royal Mint Real Casa de la Moneda in Madrid, shows the main hall of the Andorran Parliament Casa de la Vall and above it the lettering "150 ANYS DE LA NOVA REFORMA DE 1866" (150th anniversary of the New Reform of 1866), the year of issue "2016" is below it and the name of the issuing country "ANDORRA" at the bottom of the coin. Andorran coins are minted alternately in the countries of the Princes of Andorra; in 2016 it was the turn of the Royal Mint Real Casa de la Moneda in Madrid. Due to organisational problems the coin could not be issued until 2017.

🔎		Andorra	08 Feb. 2018	100th anniversary of the Andorran anthem	20001 20002 20005	85,000	•
	Description : El Gran Carlemany (The Great Charlemagne) is the national anthem of Andorra. The lyrics ("The great Charlemagne, my father, freed me from the Arabs. And from heaven he gave me the life of Meritxel, the great mother. I was born a princess, a virgin, neutral between two nations. I am the only remaining daughter of the Carolingian Empire ...") were composed by Juan Benlloch y Vivó (1864‐1926) ‐ appointed Bishop of Urgell from 1906 to 1918, (this position meant that he was also Prince of Andorra) and the tune of Enric Marfany Bons (1871‐1942). Published in 1914, it was declared the national anthem by the Andorran Parliament "Consell General de les Valls" on the 2nd of April 1917. The logo was designed based the book entitled the National Anthem of Andorra, the original image of Benlloch y Vivós was later replaced by the first bars of the anthem in musical notation. Surrounded by an ornament, there is the "Himne Andorrà" (Hymn of Andorra), and underneath it is an arched piece of writing "chor unison i acompanyament" (choir and accompaniment ‐ implying that of an organ). To the lower left is ‐ cut ‐ "Lletra del ... i llm ... lloch i Vivó" (text by ... "LL.M" = Master of Laws ... lloch i Vivó), on the right "Música (music) ... mos ... (Mossèn = knight) En ... (Enric Marfany)". At the bottom there is the coat of arms of Benloch y Vivó with the five‐pointed crown of the Andorran prince. At the top is the year of minting "2017" and "100 anys de l'himne d'Andorra" (100th Anniversay of the Andorran anthem). The coin was designed by the Ateliers de Gravure of the Monnaie de Paris. Andorran coins are minted alternately in the countries of the Princes of Andorra; in 2017 it was the turn of the Monnaie de Paris in Pessac. Due to organisational problems the coin could not be issued until 2018.

🔎		Andorra	08 Feb. 2018	Andorra ‐ the Pyrenean country	20001 20002 20005	85,000	•
	Description : The upper part of the coin illustrates a triangle made up of three wavy stripes, a simplified representation of the geographical shape of the country. Below it is the word "Andorra" and below that "EL PAÍS DELS PIRINEUS" (The land in the Pyrenees). It is the registered trademark of the Andorran Government and is used in all communications in order to be clearly and immediately recognisable as a uniform, identical and coordinated image. The coin was designed by the Ateliers de Gravure of the Monnaie de Paris. Andorran coins are minted alternately in the countries of the Princes of Andorra; in 2017 it was the turn of the Monnaie de Paris in Pessac. Due to organisational problems the coin could not be issued until 2018.

🔎		Andorra	12 Apr. 2018	25th anniversary of the Andorran Constitution	20001 20002 20005	75,000	•
	Description : The coin depicts the "Monument a la Constitució" created in 1993 by Emili Armengol i Abril, the monument is to the men and women of Andorra who created the Constitution, and stands in the Square of the Parliament in Andorra la Vella. The Monument shows the silhouettes of a man and a woman in hollow outline and depicts the will of Andorra to become a democratic and social state governed by the rule of law, as laid down in Article 1 of the Constitution and expressed in the referendum of the 14th of March 1993. To the right of the monument is the outline of the Principality of Andorra with its Latin motto "VIRTVS VNITA FORTIOR" (Virtus unita fortior, United virtue is stronger). On the left of the coin is "ANDORRA" and on the right the reason for this issue "25è ANIVERSARI DE LA CONSTITUCIÓ" (25th anniversary of the Constitution), and underneath "1993‐2018". The coin was designed by the Fábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre (FNMT) part of the Royal Mint Real Casa de la Moneda in Madrid. Andorran coins are minted alternately in the countries of the Princes of Andorra; in 2018 it was the turn of the Royal Mint Real Casa de la Moneda in Madrid.

🔎		Andorra	26 Nov. 2018	70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights	20001 20002 20005	75,000	•
	Description : The coin, designed by the artist Judit Gaset Flinch from La Seu d'Urgell, shows seven staircases symbolizing the seven administrative districts of Andorra in the shape of mountains all leading down to the centre of the coin where the name of the issuing country, "ANDORRA", and the year of issue, "2018" are found. The stairs also represent the branches of a stylised tree, which symbolises humanity and Andorra part of it. The thirty leaves sprouting from the branches represent the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The coin is surrounded by the circular lettering "70 ANYS DE LA DECLARACIÓ UNIVERSAL DELS DRETS HUMANS" (70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights). The silhouette of the Pyrenees can be found in a y‐shaped ornament at the bottom left of the coin. Andorran coins are alternately minted in the countries of the Princes of Andorra; in 2018 it was the turn of the Royal Mint Real Casa de la Moneda in Madrid.

🔎		Andorra	11 Mar. 2019	2019 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup final	20001 20002 20005	60,000	•
	Description : Celebrating the 2019 Alpine Skiing World Cup finals in Grandvalira‐Soldeu, the commemorative coin, designed by the Ateliers de Gravure of the Monnaie de Paris, depicts a skier on a steep slope in front of the event logo and snow crystals. In a circle, around the outside is inscribed "FINALS DE LA COPA DEL MÓN D'ESQUI ANDORRA 2019" (Final of the Ski World Cup Andorra 2019). Andorran coins are alternately minted in the countries of the Princes of Andorra; in 2019 it was the turn of the Monnaie de Paris in Pessac.

🔎		Andorra	11 Nov. 2019	600th anniversary of the formation of "Consell de la Terra" constitution	20001 20002 20005	60,000	•
	Description : In 1419, with the approval of the two Princes of Andorra ‐ Francesc de Tovia, 1415‐1436 Bishop of Urgell, and John I, 1412‐1436 Count of Foix ‐ the "Consell de la Terra" (Council of the Earth) was created, a type of a parliament and the most important representative body of Andorra. It was the forerunner of the present Consell General de les Valls (General Council of the Valleys) gathered to the council were the heads of the most important Andorran families. At present the General Council consists of 28 board members, half of whom are elected via parish lists. The coin, designed by the Italian designer Orietta Rossi, shows the upper arched stones of the portal of the Casa de la Vall in Andorra la Vella, bearing the name "ANDORRA", above which is the coat of arms of Andorra, flanked by seventeen faces in profile. Above is the Andorrian Latin motto, "VIRTVS VNITA FORTIOR" (Virtus unita fortior, united virtue is stronger). The coat of arms shows the mitre and crosier of the Bishop of Urgell, Prince of Andorra, the three stakes of the coat of arms of Foix and the four of Catalonia respectively, together with the two cows of the Counts of Béarn. Above it, can be seen the lower part of a window of the Casa de la Vall. At the top there is a semi‐circle with the words "600 ANYS DEL CONSELL DE LA TERRA" (600th anniversay of the Council of the Earth) and at the bottom of the coin the anniversary number of years 600, represented as "6(1419/2019)0". Andorran coins are minted alternately in the countries of the Princes of Andorra; in 2019 it was the turn of the Monnaie de Paris in Pessac.

🔎		Andorra	09 Dec. 2020	The 27th Ibero‐American Summit in Andorra	20001 20002 20005	73,500	•
	Description : In 2005 Andorra signed the Constitutional Treaty of the Ibero‐American General Secretariat, which is based in the Spanish capital Madrid. The official and working languages are Spanish and Portuguese. The aim of this association is to promote cooperation, coordination and solidarity between the Member States. The biennial Ibero‐American Summit met in Soldeu, Andorra, in 2020 to discuss "Innovation for sustainable development ‐ goals for 2030". The coin, designed by the Italian designer Orietta Rossi, depicts a stylised tree made up of human silhouettes and cogwheels. The silhouettes symbolise the integration of society, culture and education for a sustainable future, while the cogwheels symbolise the energy of movement among the ideas and proposals of the summit participants. The logo of the event, shown in the bottom right‐hand corner, shows in the upper right‐hand quadrant three segments illustrating the colours of the Andorran flag, while in the bottom left‐hand corner six segments are intended to represent Andorra's openness to the objectives of sustainable development. In a semicircle on the upper left is "XXVII CIMERA IBEROAMERICANA" (27th Summit of Latin America). On the left is the name of the issuing country "ANDORRA" and below it the year "2020". Andorran coins are minted alternately in the countries of the Princes of Andorra; in 2020 this was the turn of the Royal Mint Real Casa de la Moneda in Madrid.

🔎		Andorra	09 Dec. 2020	50th anniversary of Universal Female Suffrage	20001 20002 20005	60,000	•
	Description : Andorran men over the age of 27 have had the right to vote since 1933. On the 18th of May 1967 a group of Andorran women demanded the right to present a petition to the General Council, spurred on by the beginning of feminist movements in other European countries, that Parliament grant them the right to vote and the right to be elected. The group received a total of 378 signatures from women over 25 years of age, who had the right to sign. The General Council did not react to the initiative until the 4th of July 1969, when the right for women to vote was recognised , but not their eligibility to vote. On the 14th of April 1970 it was decreed that 'all women who had full Andorran citizenship would have the right to vote on equal terms with men'. Women voted for the first time on the 14th of December 1971 and on the 24th of May 1973 the General Council recognised the right of Andorran women to stand for election. The coin depicts the face of a woman, framed by curved lines symbolising consecutive Catalan female first names. This is intended to symbolise solidarity for women in the fight for their rights. The coin was designed by the artist Judit Gaset Flinch from La Seu d'Urgell, at the top of the coin is a semicircular inscription "50 ANYS DEL SUFRAGI UNIVERSAL FEMENÍ" (50 years of universal women's suffrage) and bottom right "ANDORRA 1970‐2020". Andorran coins are minted alternately in the countries of the princes of Andorra; in 2020 this was the turn of the Royal Mint Real Casa de la Moneda in Madrid.

🔎		Andorra	15 Dec. 2021	100th anniversary of the santification of Our Lady of Meritxell	20002 20003 20005	73,750	•
	Description : Around the Eastern Pyrenees there are five Marian shrines: Lourdes, Torreciudad, the Basílica del Pilar in Zaragoza, the Monastery of Montserrat and the shrine of Meritxell. According to legend, on Epiphany Day in the 12th century, churchgoers near Meritxell noticed a miraculously blossoming rose bush beside the snow‐covered path, under which they found a statue of the Madonna. They gave it to the priest in Canillo, who locked it in the church. Mysteriously, however, the next day it was back at the place where it had been found. The same thing happened after a handover to the church of Encamp. For that reason, it was decided to build a chapel where the Madonna was found and place an 83 cm high polychrome painted wood statue in an altar niche. In 1873, the Consell General de les Valls (General Council of the Valleys ‐ the Andoran parliament) declared the patron saint of Andorra. On the 8th of September 1921 on this day in 1278, Andorra became a co‐Principality by the treaty called Pareatges), the statue of the Virgin Mary was consecrated. Since then, the day of Nostra Senyora de Meritxell, the country's patron saint, has been celebrated as the bank holidays of the Principality of Andorra. The original chapel was built in the Romanesque architectural style and was completely renovated in the 17th century. In 1972, the building caught fire the night after the bank holidays and was completely destroyed. No remains of the Romanesque statue were found, so there is speculation that it was arson to cover up its theft. The new sacred building, designed by the Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill, was inaugurated on the 8th of September 1976 and elevated to the status of basilica minor by Pope Francis in 2014. In the basilica minor is a sculpture of the Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus by Andorran artist Jaume Rubia and presents a replica of the Romanesque original. The coin, designed by Orietta Rossi, shows the replica of the statue of the Virgin Mary with the inscription "MERITXELL" in the base in front of the interior of the new basilica, flanked on the left by the year of consecration "1921" and on the right by the year of issue "2021". At the top right is a six‐petalled flower in a circle, a decorative element of the statue. At the bottom, "ANDORRA" is the name of the issuing country. Andorran coins are minted alternately in the countries of the co‐Princes of Andorra; in 2021 this concerned France with the Monnaie de Paris in Pessac.

🔎		Andorra	15 Dec. 2021	Let’s take care of our elderly	20002 20003 20005	70,000	•
	Description : The commemorative coin is dedicated to the senior citizens who fared badly during the COVID‐19 pandemic, both from a health point of view and because of the social isolation they suffered. Eric Jover, Andorran Minister of Finance, pointed out that almost 90 % of the people who lost their lives to the coronavirus pandemic were over 65 years old. The country is committed to preventing the spread of the virus and protecting its citizens. The care for the Andorran elderly is expressed in the coin designed by Orietta Rossi by the hand of an old person resting in a younger hand stretched out to help. Below it is a stethoscope, above it ‐ as if trapped in an isolation tent ‐ are seven SARS‐CoV‐2 viruses, whose spread seems to be prevented by the interconnected letters forming the word "ANDORRA". At the top, the issue occasion "CUIDEM LA NOSTRA GENT GRAN" (we take care of our senior citizens) is written in a semicircle, and on the left is the year of issue "2021". Andorran coins are minted alternately in the countries of the Princes of Andorra; in 2021 it was the turn of the Monnaie de Paris in Pessac.

🔎		Andorra	16 Jan. 2023	10th anniversary of the monetary agreement between Andorra and the European Union	20003 20005 20009	70.000	•
	Description : The Principality of Andorra traditionally did not have an official currency, but used de facto Spanish and French banknotes and coins, which were replaced by euro banknotes and coins on the 1st of January 2002, following the introduction of the euro as book money on the 1st of January 1999. A Monetary Agreement between the European Union and the Principality of Andorra was concluded on the 30th of June 2011 and the euro was introduced as the official currency of Andorra on the 1st of April 2012. Bullion and collector coins denominated in diners (els diners = money in Catalan) issued by the Principality are not legal tender in the European Union. The minting of diners was started in 1977 by the Bishop of Urgell in his capacity as co‐Prince of Andorra and carried out by the Servei d'Emissions, the episcopal mint. A diner was equivalent to 100 pesetas from 1983 to 1985, and 125 pesetas thereafter. From 1998, the Consell General de les Valls, the Parliament of Andorra, also issued diner coins; however, they too were not used in commerce. The commemorative coin, dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the start of the monetary agreement with the EU, shows the euro symbol in a semicircle surrounded by six five‐pointed stars in the upper left‐hand corner and the dates "2012" and "2022" in two lines to the right. The issuing country "ANDORRA" is mentioned at the top right. The lower half of the coin motif is formed by puzzle pieces symbolising the interlocking of the countries participating in the euro. Andorran coins are minted alternately in the countries of the co‐Princes of Andorra; in 2022 this was the turn of the Royal Mint Real Casa de la Moneda in Madrid.

🔎		Andorra	16 Jan. 2023	The legend of Charlemagne	20003 20005 20009	70.000	•
	Description : According to legend, Andorra was founded in 805 by Emperor Charlemagne (748‐814), who is said to have given its inhabitants their own legal status. In fact, however, the country belonged to the Spanish Marche founded by Charlemagne, a territory he had taken from the Moors. In a letter from his grandson, Charles the Bold, to the Count of Barcelona, the Andorran territory is defined as belonging to the Count of Urgell in 843. In 1133, Count Ermengol VI of Urgell sold his lordship rights in the valleys of Andorra to the Bishop of Urgell. The bishops of Urgell entrusted the defence and jurisdiction of Andorra to the noble family of Caboet, who received their own fiefs in the valleys of Andorra and Sant Joan as vassals. The last Caboet heiress married Arnau, the vice‐count of Castelbon, in 1185. The latter was an ardent Cathar and, in alliance with the Count Raimund Roger of Foix, who lived on the northern slopes of the Pyrenees, tried to rid himself of his vassalage to the Bishop of Urgell. To this end, he married his heiress daughter to the future Count of Foix in 1202, transferring the Caboet estate in Andorra to this influential family. The Counts of Foix refused to enter into a vassal relationship with the bishops of Urgell. The conflict was settled in 1278 when Bishop Pere d'Urtx and Count Roger Bernard III agreed in the 'Treaty of Pareatges' to divide the rule over the disputed territory. The two parties recognised each other as equal lords over Andorra. This treaty marked the de facto foundation of the Co‐principality of Andorra. While the Bishop of Urgell remained in his treaty rights, those of the Counts of Foix passed to the French Crown in 1594 with the appointment of the last Count of Foix, Henry of Bourbon, as King of France, in whose legal succession the Presidents of France still stand today. The coin shows Charlemagne after a painting by Albrecht Dürer created in 1511/13 (today in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg), with the imperial sword and the imperial crown, the crown of the kings and emperors of the Holy Roman Empire (today in the Imperial Treasury of the Vienna Hofburg). The silhouettes of the mountains of Andorra form the background, and the bend of the Valira River is depicted on the left. On the top it says "ANDORRA", on the right the year of issue "2022". Andorran coins are minted alternately in the countries of the co-Princes of Andorra; in 2022 this was the turn of the Royal Mint Real Casa de la Moneda in Madrid.

🔎		Andorra	27 Nov. 2023	30. anniversary od Andorra's accession to the UN	20003 20005	70.000	•
	Work in progress

🔎		Andorra	27 Nov. 2023	Fire festivals for the summer solstice	20003 20005	70.000	•
	Work in progress

References :
20001	Images taken with authorisation by the ECB ‐ Mail dated 20.Feb.2020 © "European Central Bank"	20002	Data mirrored from Wikipedia Page "2_euro_commemorative_coins" with friendly support of the guardians of that page.
20003	Images taken with authorisation by H....... Hamburg	20004	Coloured version of this Commemorative Coin in circulation EU‐legal‐technical specifications do not recongnise colour prints. The EU nevertheless tolerates them, as their numbers are very small and they are sold in special packs and therefor are very unlikely to be used as currency.
20005	enlarged Images taken with authorisation by Gerd Seyffert © "Gerd Seyffert 2021"	20006	Not Applicable
20007	Images taken by Münzen Kreuzberg © "Münzen Kreuzberg 2021"	20008	enlarged Images taken by Münzen Kreuzberg © "Münzen Kreuzberg 2021"
20009	Text with kind permission by Gerd Seyffert © "Gerd Seyffert 2023"	20010	Not Applicable