Issuance of commemorative coins

1. Each Member State whose currency is the euro may only issue two commemorative coins per year, save where:

commemorative coins are collectively issued by all Member States whose currency is the euro; or

a commemorative coin is issued on the occasion of a temporary vacancy or a provisional occupation of the function of Head of State.

2. The total number of commemorative coins put into circulation for each individual issue shall not exceed the higher of the following two ceilings:

0,1 % of the cumulated total net number of 2-euro coins put into circulation by all Member States whose currency is the euro up to the beginning of the year preceding the year of issuance of the commemorative coin; this ceiling may be raised to 2,0 % of the cumulated total net number of 2-euro coins of all Member States whose currency is the euro if a widely recognised and highly symbolic subject is commemorated, in which case the issuing Member State shall refrain from launching another commemorative coin issue using the raised ceiling during the subsequent four years and shall set out the reasons for choosing the raised ceiling; or

5,0 % of the cumulated total net number of 2-euro coins put into circulation by the Member State concerned up to the beginning of the year preceding the year of issuance of the commemorative coin.

3. The decision whether to issue commemorative coins with a common design collectively issued by all Member States whose currency is the euro shall be taken by the Council. The voting rights of the Member States whose currency is not the euro shall be suspended for the adoption of that decision.

REGULATION (EU) No 651/2012 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 4 July 2012 on the issuance of euro coins