site.btaCentral Bank Presents Bulgarian Euro Coins

The Bulgarian National Bank presented the design of the national side of the euro coins of all denominations - 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 euro cents and 1 euro and 2 euro, according to a publication on the Central Bank's website.

The press release notes that "today, at a meeting of the Coordination Council for the preparation of the Republic of Bulgaria for membership in the euro area, the art projects for the design of the Bulgarian national side of the euro coins of all denominations approved by the Governing Council of the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) were adopted."

The euro coins have a common side and a national side. The design of the common sides of the coins is the work of Luc Luycx of the Royal Belgian Mint. They feature images of the European Union or Europe, which symbolise the unity of the EU, the BNB adds.

On July 24, in his first interview after being re-elected as BNB Governor, Dimitar Radev told BTA that at a meeting earlier in 2023 the BNB Governing Council had decided to "reproduce the design of the current exchange coins, which will ensure continuity in the currency used." Radev added that the euro coins will retain the images of the Madara Horseman (on the coins with a denomination of 1 to 50 euro cents), St. Ivan of Rila (from 1 euro) and Paisii of Hilandar - on the 2 euro coin, while the inscription "GOD PROTECT BULGARIA" will appear on the reverse side of the latter. In addition, it is envisaged that the word "stotinki" will also be retained in the graphic design of the national coins, which will have euro denominations.

The artistic designs for the design of the Bulgarian national side of the euro coins adopted Thursday by the Coordination Council meet the requirements for the main motifs and mandatory design details set out in Council Regulation (EU) No 729/2014 of June 24, 2014 on the denomination structure and technical specifications of euro coins, the central bank says.

According to the legal requirements, each national side of euro coins includes mandatory and optional details.

The mandatory elements included in the design of the national side of the Bulgarian euro coins are:

• the depiction of a circle of 12 stars, as on the flag of the European Union;
• the Cyrillic version of the word "BULGARIA" to indicate the issuing country;
•  for the Bulgarian 2-euro coins, an inscription written alternately on the reverse, with the words "GOD PROTECT BULGARIA" on one side and the same inscription written in reverse on the other side.

The selected optional elements included in the design of the national side of the Bulgarian euro coins are:

• Cyrillic spelling of the word "euro" on the 1 and 2 euro coins, "stotinka" on the 1 euro cent coin and "stotinki" on the 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 euro cent coins; 
• the year of the introduction of the euro in Bulgaria "2025".

For the main design elements of the national side of the Bulgarian euro coins, the design of the current Bulgarian currency coins is reproduced:

• Madara Horseman - on 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 euro cent coins;
• St. Ivan of Rila - on the 1 euro coin;
• Paisii of Hilandar - on the 2 euro coin.

The motives for this are that the symbols on the current Bulgarian exchange coins are well established and well accepted by Bulgarian citizens. This approach will ensure continuity from the current to the new euro coins in Bulgaria and their easy recognition, while at the same time confirming and continuing the Bulgarian identity through the familiar symbols on the Bulgarian coins.

The artistic designs have been produced by the Bulgarian Mint.

The artistic designs are to be submitted for approval by the European Commission, the Council of the European Union and the euro area Member States.

After their approval, these designs will be used for the production of euro coins with the Bulgarian national side. Pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of Bulgaria, the euro area Member States and the European Commission for the start of the production of euro coins and for the preparatory tasks prior to the start of the production, initially 8 denominations of euro coins with Bulgarian national side will be produced in a quantity of up to one million pieces for each denomination to test the quality of the produced coins and to certify the Bulgarian Mint. The actual production of the required quantities of euro coins with Bulgarian national side will be carried out after the Decision of the Council of the European Union on the adoption of the euro by the Republic of Bulgaria.