2 Euro commemorative coins Slovakia

Slovakia

2 Euro

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

Slovakia
The edge lettering of the Slovak 2‐euro‐commemorative coins is : (Slovak Republic)	Slovak mint mark :

Image	Country		Date	Feature	Ref.	Volume
🔎		Slovakia	07 Jan. 2009	10th anniversary of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)	20001 20002 20005	2,500,000	•
	Description : In 1972 the European Exchange Rate Mechanism was created to limit fluctuations between currencies. In 1975 a basket of currencies was used to define the European Currency Unit (ECU) and in 1979 the European Monetary System was created. 1990 saw the start of the first stage of European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) and in 1994 the second stage, during which the European Monetary Institute prepared for the establishment of the European Central Bank (ECB). In 1996 the European Commission established the currency abbreviation €. In 1999, saw the third stage of EMU, all participating currencies were linked to the euro by exchange rate parity. In 2008 a design competition was held for the EMU Community Edition coin and out of 5 proposals a winner, Georgios Stamatopoulos was determined by an online vote. The design shows a stylised human stick figure on the blank space of an irregularly shaped ancient coin, with the € symbol on the left arm. It symbolises the transition from the bartering of archaic times to European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Below the € symbol are the designer's initials "ΓΣ" and the years "1999‐2009". National characteristics : Above is the name of the issuing country "SLOVENSKO" (Slovakia), the acronym of the occasion of issue below is "HMÚ". The mint mark "MK" between two embossing stamps of the Slovak mint Mincovňa Kremnica š.p. in Kremnica is shown on the left.

🔎		Slovakia	10 Nov. 2009	20th anniversary of the Start of the Velvet Revolution	20001 20002 20005	1,000,000	•
	Description : Key rings became the symbol of the peaceful resistance in Czechoslovakia in 1989. The demonstators wanted to symbolise the downfall of the communist regime, the "Velvet Revolution" with keys ringing over their heads. So the symbol of a key acting as the clapper in a bell is the motif on the coin. It is surrounded in a circle with the inscriptions "17 NOVEMBER SLOBODA DEMOKRATIA" (17th November Freedom of Democracy), "1989‐2009" and "SLOVENSKO" (Slovakia). The square emblem of the coin designer Pavel Károly, formed of his initials, and the mint mark "MK" between two embossing stamps of the Slovak mint Mincovňa Kremnica š.p. in Kremnica are located to the lower right‐hand side of the bell.

🔎		Slovakia	10 Jan. 2011	20th anniversary of Foundation of the Visegrád‐Group	20001 20002 20005	1,000,000	•
	Description : The coin commemorating the Visegrád Agreement of 15th February 1991 depicts the outlines of the four co‐signatories, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. Circularly depicted are the words "VYŠEHRADSKÁ SKUPINA • VISEGRAD GROUP" (in Slovak and English: Visegrád Group) and "15.2.1991". At the top is the logo of the group, below it in a V‐shape on the left "2011", the year of issue. To the right the country of issue "SLOVENSKO" (Slovakia), below it the initials "MR" of the designer Miroslav Rónai and the mint mark "MK" between two embossing stamps of the Slovak mint Mincovňa Kremnica š.p. in Kremnica.

🔎		Slovakia	02 Jan. 2012	10th anniversary of the Euro‐Currency	20001 20002 20005	1,000,000	•
	Description : To mark the tenth anniversary of the final adoption of the euro as cash, all 17 EU countries using the euro as their official currency issued a commemorative € 2 coin. There were five designs submitted, which could be voted for online. The result was announed on the 30th of June 2011: the winning design was created by Helmut Andexlinger and shows a globe in the middle, overlaid with the euro symbol. The importance of the euro in Europe and the world as a whole coupled with the fact that it has become a global player in the international monetary system over the last ten years, is illustrated by the euro symbol. According to the designer, the symbolic elements around the stylised globe represent the suggestion that the euro offers more opportunities for businesses and markets which in turn ensures economic stability by encouraging investment in this environment. The factory shape symbolises production, the cargo ship trade, all of which benefit the symbolic family of four with three homes by providing more quality jobs and stable consumer prices. The symbol of the Eurotower in Frankfurt/M. represents financial strength and the two wind turbines shows stimulation in innovative investments that this environment presents, whose central element is the euro. At the bottom of the coin are the years "2002 and "2012". National characteristics : At the top of the coin is the name of the issuing country "SLOVENSKO" (Slovakia). On the right between the images of residential houses and family is the mint mark "MK" between two embossing stamps of the Slovak mint Mincovňa Kremnica š.p. in Kremnica.

🔎		Slovakia	05 Jul. 2013	1150th anniversary of the advent of the mission of Constantine and Methodius to Great Moravia	20001 20002 20005	1,000,000	•
	Description : Constantine (∼826‐869) and Michael (∼815‐885), known as Cyril and Method(ius) were two Byzantine brothers from Thessaloniki. In preparation for their mission to Prince Ratislav's West Slavic Great Moravia they created the Glagolitic alphabet based on the Greek alphabet, but with borrowings from Armenian, Georgian and Semitic writing systems. They began to write Slavic languages and translated large parts of the Bible into Slavic. From 863 as part of the Byzantine Mission they brought Orthodoxy and helped to give full sovereignty and legitimacy to the first Slavic state in Central Europe. Today they are venerated as "Slavic Apostles". Miroslav Hric's coin design was initially rejected by the EU because of its religious imagery. A Byzantine double cross (or "Slovak Cross") is held as though it were a bishop's crook (above the trimount), linking a state symbol with a Christian symbol. Constantine holds a book in his hands signifying education and faith, while Method is depicted with a stylised church symbolising faith and institutional Christianity. Directly above the motif are the names "KONŠTANTÍN" and "METOD" with the issuing country "SLOVENSKO" (Slovakia) at the bottom, and the dates "863·2013" on the right. To the left are the designer's abbreviated initials "mh" and on the right the mint mark "MK" between two embossing stamps of the Slovak mint Mincovňa Kremnica š.p. in Kremnica.

🔎		Slovakia	01 Apr. 2014	10th anniversary of the Slovak membership of the European Union	20001 20002 20005	1,000,000	•
	Description : The coin depicts a stylised "EÚ" with the Slovak national coat of arms (Byzantine double cross on a trimount) on the "Ú". Located around the outside is "10. VÝROČIE VSTUPU DO EURÓPSKEJ ÚNIE" (10th anniversary of accession to the European Union), the reason for issuing the coin. At the bottom is "SLOVENSKO" (Slovakia), and on the left of this is the mint mark "MK" between two embossing stamps of the Slovak mint Mincovňa Kremnica š.p. in Kremnica and to the right the abbreviated initials "MP" of the designer Mária Poldaufová. To the right of the design are the dates "1. 5. 2004" (date of membership) and "2014" (year of issue).

🔎		Slovakia	24 Sep. 2015	30th anniversary of the EU‐Flag	20001 20002 20005	1,000,000	•
	Description : From 1950, the Council of Europe had been working on the design of a flag for Europe. The proposal to adopt the emblem of the Paneuropa Union, founded by Richard Coudenhove‐Kalergi in 1922, was rejected because of its supposed Christian symbolism. In 1955 it was agreed that the European flag, also adopted by the European Community on 29th of June 1985, would be the European flag with the twelve (a number of twelve is considered a sign of perfection) golden stars in a circular (symbolising unity) arrangement on a blue background. To mark the 30th anniversary of the EU flag, all 19 EU countries which use the euro as their official currency issued a commemorative €2 coin. There were five designs to choose from which could be voted for online. The result was declared on 28th of May 2015. The coin design was created by Georgios Stamatopoulos, coin designer at the Bank of Greece, whose initials "ΓΣ" can be seen in the lower right‐hand corner. It shows twelve stylised persons in a circle around a European flag with the twelve euro stars. National characteristics : Above is the name of the issuing country "SLOVENSKO" (Slovakia), followed by the dates "1985‐2015". The mint mark "MK" between two embossing stamps of the Slovak mint Mincovňa Kremnica š.p. in Kremnica is shown on the right.

🔎		Slovakia	23 Oct. 2015	200th birthday of Ľudovít Štúr	20001 20002 20005	1,000,000	•
	Description : Ľudovít Štúr (1815‐1856) is considered an outstanding figure in the Slovak national movement in what was then Austria‐Hungary. As a philologist and writer, he founded the current version of the Slovak literary language by introducing a new phonetic orthography. In 1994, the Ľudovít‐Štúr‐Order was founded as one of the highest awards in Slovakia and is awarded annually. The portrait, based on a painting by Jozef Božetech Klemens (1817‐1883), bears the inscription "ĽUDOVÍT ŠTÚR" and the year of his birth and death "1815‐1856" on the left and the year of issue "2015" and the name of the issuing country "SLOVENSKO" (Slovakia) on the right. The mint mark "MK" between two embossing stamps of the Slovak mint Mincovňa Kremnica š.p. in Kremnica is on the upper right. The abbreviated initials "IR" of the coin designer Ivan Řehák can be found in the lower right-hand corner.

🔎		Slovakia	07 Mar. 2016	Celebrating the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union	20001 20002 20005	1,000,000	•
	Description : The central design includes the coat of arms of the Slovak Republic (Byzantine double cross on a trimount) against a background of fan‐shaped curved lines running towards the centre ‐ similar to the blades of a turbine. The motif symbolises the position and importance of Slovakia during its Presidency of the EU Council. The year "2016" can be read to the right of the national emblem of the Slovak Republic. The country name "SLOVENSKO" (Slovakia) and the occasion "PREDSEDNÍCTVO SR V RADE EÚ" (Slovak EU Presidency) are inscribed around the outside of the central design. The mintmark "MK" between two embossing stamps of the Slovak mint Mincovňa Kremnica š.p. in Kremnica, and the square framed ligated initials "VP" of the coin designer Vladimír Pavlica are at the bottom of the design. Out of the total circulation of 1 million, 1000 copies were minted in the proof production process exclusively for representative purposes as part of the Council Presidency.

🔎		Slovakia	04 Jan. 2017	550th anniversary of the start of teaching at the Universitas Istropolitana	20001 20002 20005	1,000,000	•
	Description : Matthias Corvinus (1443‐1490) was king of Hungary and Croatia 1458‐1490, 1469‐1490 king of Bohemia and conqueror of large parts of the Habsburg hereditary lands (which he ruled from Vienna 1485‐1490). In 1465 he founded the Universitas Istropolitana in Pressburg, where teaching started in 1467. Johann Vitez, the rector of the university, appointed many famous lecturers from Austria, Italy and Poland, among them Galeotto Marzio and Regiomontanus. The university was closed down in 1490 after Corvinus' death, due to lack of financial support. Today's successor institution is the Comenius University of Bratislava. The commemorative coin depicts the facade of the university, which today houses the University of Performing Arts Bratislava, and in front of it a professor and two students facing him. The impression at the top left depicts Matthias Corvinius taken from a chronicle written by Johannes de Thurocz (∼1435‐1489), holding an orb crowned by a trefly cross. Next to it is the year of formation "1467". Below is "SLOVENSKO" (Slovakia) and the year of issue "2017", on the left "UNIVERZITA" and on the top right "ISTROPOLITANA". The lower left‐hand side shows the mintmark "MK" between two embossing stamps of the Slovak mint Mincovňa Kremnica š.p. in Kremnica and the abbreviated initials "MP" of the coin designer Mária Poldaufová.

🔎		Slovakia	03 Jan. 2018	25th anniversary of the establishment of the Slovak Republic	20001 20002 20005	1,000,000	•
	Description : The central design symbolises Slovakia's accession to the European Union (2004) and the euro zone (2009). It shows a stylised portal that spans both the outline of Slovakia and a euro symbol surrounded by stars (eight of the twelve symbolising the Europena Union). To the left of the motif is the coat of arms of Slovakia with the Byzantine double cross on a trimount. The name of the issuing country appears in a semicircle on the lower left: "SLOVENSKÁ REPUBLIKA" (Slovak Republic). Its date of foundation "1. 1. 1993" and the year of issue "2018" of the coin are shown below right, above it the mint mark "MK" between two embossing stamps of the Slovak mint Mincovňa Kremnica š.p. in Kremnica and the square seal "PK" of the coin designer Pavel Károly.

🔎		Slovakia	25 Apr. 2019	100th anniversary of Milan Rastislav Štefánik's death	20001 20002 20005	1,000,000	•
	Description : Milan Rastislav Štefánik (1880‐1919) was a Slovak astronomer and diplomat, born in the Kingdom of Hungary, became a French citizen in 1912 and a military pilot and officer of the Legion of Honour, general of the French army and the Czechoslovak legions in 1915, and one of the founding fathers of the First Czechoslovak Republic. The coin, which features a design based on contemporary photograph, shows him in a French general's uniform. On the left are the semicircular words "SLOVENSKO" (Slovakia) and "MILAN RATISLAV ŠTEFÁNIK", his year of birth "1880" and death "1919", and on the right the year of issue "2019", the abbreviated initials "PV" of the coin designer Peter Valach and the mint mark "MK" between two embossing stamps of the Slovak mint Mincovňa Kremnica š.p. in Kremnica.

🔎		Slovakia	11 Nov. 2020	20th anniversary of Slovakian membership of the OECD	20001 20002 20005	1,000,000	•
	Description : The coin design by Peter Valach, is intended to symbolise the concept of digitised humanism: printed conductors on a computer board in the shape of a human brain, with a circular microprocessor at its centre, represent the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which is both technically and humanly. Below a square with the inscription "20 VÝROČIE VSTUP SR DO OECD" (20th anniversary of Slovakia's accession to the OECD), there is a two‐line text "SLOVENSKO 2020" (Slovenia 2020). On the right is the coat of arms of Slovakia with the Byzantine double cross on a trimount. On the left is the mint mark of the Slovak mint Mincovňa Kremnica š.p. in Kremnica, an "MK" between two embossing stamps, and below it the designer's abbreviated initials "PV".

🔎		Slovakia	18 Nov. 2021	20th anniversary of Slovakian membership of the OECD	20002 20003 20005	1,000,000	•
	Description : Alexander Dubček (1921‐1992) was a politician from the Slovak part of Czechoslovakia. As General Secretary of the Czechoslovak Communists, he became the leading figure of the Prague Spring of 1968, which sought liberal reforms. In 1989, he joined the anti‐communist opposition and, together with the Czech Václav Havel, became one of the main figures in the Velvet Revolution, as a result of which he was elected Chairman of the federal Czechoslovak Parliament (1989‐1991). In 1992, he became leader of the Slovak Social Democratic Party. He died on the the 7th of November 1992 following a car accident. Some weeks later, on the 1st of January 1993 the dissolution of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republics saw the creation of two new states of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The profile facing left is overlaid in the lower part by the name "Alexander Dubček" and his living years "1921" to "1992", shown on two separate lines. On the left is the name of the issuing country "SLOVENSKO" (Slovakia), on the right the year of issue "2021" and below that is the "MK" between two embossing stamps, the mint mark of the Slovak mint Mincovňa Kremnica š.p. in Kremnica. At the bottom right below it the initials "BR" of the designer Branislav Ronai.

🔎		Slovakia	01 Jul. 2022	35th anniversary of the Erasmus Program	20003 20005 20009	1,000,000	•
	Description : ERASMUS is a backronym for EuRopean Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students. The ERASMUS exchange programme is aimed at EU citizens who have been studying at a university for at least one year and supports a three to twelve‐month stay abroad at a university within the EU, or an internship. In addition, there are master's and doctoral programmes, programmes for young entrepreneurs, for school education, vocational training and adult education. Internships as well as professional development measures are financially supported and language courses abroad are also made possible for working people. The backronym refers to the Dutch philosopher and theologian Erasmus of Rotterdam (∼1466‐1536), described as "the crowning glory of the Christian humanists", depicted after a painting by Hans Holbein the Younger created in 1523. The French coin designer Joaquin Jimenez, whose initials "J.J." appear next to Erasmus' pen, has designed as a background a network of connecting lines between the twelve stars arranged in a circle and symbolising Europe, which is intended to represent the manifold intellectual and human exchanges between European students. By relieving some partial areas between the connecting lines, the numbers 3 and 5 emerge, referring to the 35th anniversary of the programme. In a block of three to four lines of lettering arranged in a quarter circle at the bottom right, the commemorative period is written as "1987-2022" (the last number also designating the year of issue) below the occasion of issue, followed by the name of the issuing state, if this does not consist of an abbreviation placed in the centre of the motif. National characteristics : The quarter circle at the bottom right has four lines; below the commemorative period, the issue occasion "ERASMUS PROGRAMME" is written in two lines, below it is the issuing country "SLOVENSKO" (Slovakia). The mint mark of the Slovak mint Mincovňa Kremnica š.p. in Kremnica, an "MK" between two embossing stamps, is depicted on the bottom on the left sleeve.

🔎		Slovakia	05 Oct. 2022	300th anniversary of the construction of continental Europe’s first atmospheric steam engine for draining mines	20003 20005 20009	1,000,000	•
	Description : The coin motif designed by Peter Valach is based on a vivid technical drawing by the designer of the steam engine, the English engineer Isaac Potter (1690‐1735). The mechanism of the atmospheric steam engine, which became known as the 'Potterian Fire Engine', is based on an invention by the Englishman Thomas Newcomen (1663‐1725), which was first used in a coal mine in Staffordshire, England, in 1712. In 1722 ‐ 300 years ago ‐ Isaac Potter, together with the Austrian architect Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach, built the first 'fire engine' on the European continent in Königsberg near Schemnitz in the then Kingdom of Hungary, now Nová Baňa in Slovakia, which was used in gold ore mining and pumped mine water out of the mountain. The efficiency of the engine was only 0.5 %; nevertheless, the Newcomen steam engines were only displaced towards the end of the 18th century by the steam engines of the Scottish inventor James Watt (1736‐1819), which achieved an efficiency of up to 3 %. In 1887, the mines in Königsberg/Nová Baňa were closed down. Above the 7 o'clock star, the signature of the designer, "Isaac Potter", is shown vertically as a two‐line facsimile. On the right, also in two lines and vertically, the issuing country "SLOVENSKO" (Slovakia) and the dates "1722 ‐ 2022". On the left is the logo "PV" of the designer's initials and below it is the "MK" between two embossing stamps, the mint mark of the Slovak mint Mincovňa Kremnica š.p. in Kremnica.

🔎		Slovakia	02 Mar. 2023	100th anniversary of the first blood transfusion in Slovakia	20003 20005 20009	1,000,000	•
	Description : The Viennese doctor Karl Landsteiner defined the AB0 system of blood groups in 1900, which includes the characteristics A and B, which can be combined to form the main groups A, B, AB and 0 (neither A nor B). Worldwide, their frequency is: 0 = 45%, A = 40%, B = 11% and AB = 4%. The researcher, who received the Nobel Prize for Medicine for this in 1930, also discovered the rhesus factor in 1937 during experiments with rhesus monkeys, which causes a possible rhesus incompatibility in pregnancies. 88% of people are rhesus‐positive and 12% rhesus‐negative. The frequency distribution of blood group characteristics according to the AB0 and Rhesus systems varies greatly depending on ethnicity. The most common combination 0+ applies to 48% of the population in several countries, whereas the rarest AB‐ applies to only 0.03% in East Asia. On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the first blood transfusion in Slovakia, Mária Poldaufová designed a central circle with a Greek cross, symbol of the Red Cross relief organisation, with a (blood) drop in the middle as the coin motif. On the four bars of the cross are the letters "A", "B", the number "0" and "AB" ‐ clockwise ‐ surrounded by 16 drops arranged in a circle, the tips of which point alternately ‐ embossed in relief ‐ towards the centre or ‐ deeply embossed ‐ away from the centre. The circular inscription "• SLOVENSKO •" (Slovakia) is at the bottom of the pill and above it the occasion of issue "PRVÁ TRANSFÚZIA KRVI 1923‐2023" (first blood transfusion 1923‐2023, the second number also representing the year of issue). The mint mark of the Slovak mint Mincovňa Kremnica š.p. in Kremnica, an "MK" between two embossing stamps and the ligature "MP" of the designer's initials flank the lowest drop on the left and right respectively.

🔎		Slovakia	11 Oct. 2023	200th anniversary of the start of regular horse‐drawn express mail service between Vienna and Bratislava	20003 20005	1,000,000	•
	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