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1
The Euro: a symbol
Of the European
Unity?
Parveen REMTOULA TS3 Marie LANDRIOT TS2
Morgane POUPARD TS2 Claire AMIOT TL
2
Introduction: The idea of a European currency was born in the sixties. However; this idea
hadn’t been materialized before the beginning of the nineties with the Treaty of
Maastricht (in 1992). It set the Euro as one of the European Union’s economic goals:
the creation of a single and common currency for the member states of the Union,
which would replace the former national currencies of each country such as, for
instance the French “franc” or the Italian “Lira”. Then, in 1999, eleven founding
countries joined the euro zone: Germany, Austria, Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, the
Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Ireland and Luxembourg. At first, the reluctance of
some of the countries belonging to the UE curbed the idea of the Euro, such as
Germany whose mark was ranked just after the dollar and the yen. Nevertheless,
banknotes and coins were finally in circulation in January 2002. After overcoming a
few obstacles, the euro has become in a decade a real symbol of the European unity
as well as the Ninth Symphony by Beethoven or the European flag. Today, in 2011,
seventeen countries are members of the euro zone. It represents more than 322
millions of inhabitants using the euro. What’s more, many European countries want
to join the euro zone such as Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania… Because of that, it is
important to learn more about the symbolic of the currency. Indeed, the Euro is not
exactly the same for every country, the design can change depending on which
country made it. For example, the Euro made by France is not exactly the same as the
Euro made by Italy. That’s why we are going to analyse in a first part the euro as a
real symbol of a European unity and in a second part, we are going to see that it is
also a way to assert each country’s national identity.
In blue, the members of the euro zone
3
I. The Euro as a symbol of unity 1) The banknotes
Euro banknote each are the same, they are a symbol of unity in Europe. In fact,
they represent a period in architecture which has united Europe. Every banknote has
a face representing the facade of a building and a bridge symbolizing a period of the
architecture’s History which has united Europe. It is spread over the European
history of architecture (for example, the classical architecture for the 5€ banknote).
It’s not representing some precise monuments; it’s inspired by some monuments of
the period; not to exclude any country, thus all the European countries can identify
their monuments as the one on the banknote. The façade of the buildings at the recto
symbolizes the open-mindedness and the European Union’s cooperation; over this
image we can see the twelve stars of the European flag which illustrate the harmony
of modern Europe. The bridge at the back of the banknote symbolizes the link which
unify European people together, with the rest of Europe and with the rest of the
world.
On the banknote we can also find the name of the currency in the Roman
writing style and in the Greek writing style, and the different initials of the European
bank the European citizen can find.
There are 7 different Euro banknotes and symbols we can see on it:
4
The 5€ banknote represents the classical architecture. This type of architecture was created by
the Roman Empire and Greek people during the Antiquity. (for example, the Tholos temple
which is the sanctuary of Athena in Delphi in Greece)
The 10€ banknote represents the Romanesque period. This is is an architectural style
of Medieval Europe. The Romanesque period lasted approximately from 800 A.D. to 1100
A.D. (For example, the cathedral of Lisbon, in Portugal)
5
The 20€ Banknote symbolise the Gothic architecture. This is the evolution of the Romanesque
architecture. It is also called “the French style” as it came from France. It started in the 12th
century and it ended in the 16th century (for example, The Reims cathedral in France).
The 50€ Banknote is the symbol of the Renaissance period. This style emerged because people
wanted to come back to something simpler than in classical architecture after the gothic period
which was more complicated. (for example, The Dome of St Peter's Basilica, Rome)
6
For the 100€ Banknote, the period represented is baroque and rococo. The baroque style is
opposed to the classical style; the classical style is made of straight line whereas the baroque is
made of curves. The rococo architecture is the continuation of the baroque style (for example,
Augustusburg Palace near Cologne for the baroque style and the Rococo Basilica at
Ottobeuren in Bavaria for the rococo style).
The 200€ Banknote show the architectural period called “iron and glass architecture”. This
architectural period refers to the Victorian Era and to the industrial period. At that time, the
architects used a lot of iron for the construction. (For example, the Eiffel tower in Paris in
France)
The 500€ Banknote is the symbol of the modern architecture. This is today’s architecture.
The 500€ Banknote will probably soon disappear because it is not often used.
7
2) The coins’ common faces
Although in 1992 the Treaty of Maastricht set the Euro as the common currency between the member states of the European Union part of the Euro zone, it’s in 1996 in Verona, four years later, that the characteristics of the future European coins were decided by the Economic and Finance Ministers in the bosom of the EcoFin. According to the wish of the majority, they agreed that only one of the faces of the coins would be common while the other one would let the national diversities express themselves. That’s how the first eight different coins were created to circulate all around Europe : the two euro coin, the one euro, the fifty cent, the twenty cent, the five cent, the two cent and the one cent ones. On these common faces, we can see different designs reminding us of the unity of
Europe.
The first common faces
2 euros Common face
1999-2007
1 euro Common face
1999-2007
This coin has a diameter of
25.75 mm and a thickness of
2.20 mm, that’s why it’s the
heaviest coin with a mass of
8.50 g. It’s composed of a ring of
cupro-nickel on the outside and
of three layers on the inside of
which two are nickel-brass and
one is nickel. Also, its edge is
engraved with fine grooves.
This coin has a diameter of
23.25 mm, a thickness of 2.33
mm, and a mass of 7.50 g. It’s
composed of a ring of nickel-
brass on the outside and of
three layers on the inside of
which two are cupro-nickel
and one is nickel. Also, its
edge is either engraved with
fine grooves or either smooth.
8
Indeed, on the coins above there are two designs symbolizing the unity of the
European Union as an illustration of Europe only representing the member states
belonging to the euro zone on the right side for the one and two euro coins and on
the left side for the fifty, twenty and ten cents coins. Moreover, on all these shekels,
on both sides of “Europe”, six stars are linked to the six others just like the stars on
the European flag which is one of the official symbol of the European Union.
The fifty cents coin’s
diameter is 24.25 mm
while its thickness is 2.38
mm, which explains why
it is slightly heavier than
the one euro coin: it
weighs 7.80 g. It has fine
scallops at the edge.
The twenty cents coin’s
diameter is 22.25 and it’s
lighter than the fifty cents coin
with a thickness of 2.14 mm
and a mass of 5.74 g. This
coin is special because of its
form which is not rounded
such as the others coins but
rather one called “Spanish
flower” because of the seven
indents at the edge.
The ten cents coin’s
diameter is 19.75 mm
while its thickness is
1.93 mm which
account for its mass of
4.10 g. Such as the
fifty cents coin, it has
fine scallops at the
edge.
10 cents Common face
1999-2007
20 cents Common face
1999-2007
50 cents Common face
1999-2007
9
All the five, two and one cent coins have the same thickness: 1.67 mm and are all
made of copper plated steel. Furthermore, they all represent the same thing : a view
of the Earth with Europe between Africa and Asia as a way to convey the situation of
the European Union in the world with the same star design asq the one on the other
coins. Nevertheless, these three sorts of coins can be differentiated thanks to their
edge which is plain except from the two cent coin.
The European flag and its twelve stars
1 cent Common face
1999-...
2 cents Common face
1999-...
5 cents Common face
1999-...
The five cents coin
has a diameter of
21.25 mm for a
mass of 3.92 g.
The two cents coin has
a diameter of 18.75 mm
for a mass of 3.06 g.
The one cent coin has a
diameter of 16.25 mm
for a mass of 2.30 g
which makes it the
smallest and lightest
coin of this currency.
10
The little differences like the thickness, the diameter or the edge of these coins
may not seem important but it was a topic of debate in the EcoFin which is the
reason why it took four years for all the members and other associations to agree on
these characteristics. Moreover, for partially sighted persons it is the only characteristics
that can allow them to have landmarks and thus to tell coins apart and not be hampered by
what is supposed to represent modernism and future within Europe, or at least the European
Union.
Nonetheless, as time went by, many other countries joined the Euro zone and
the designs on the fifty, twenty and ten cents coins became obsolete as they only
represented the first euro zone members. Furthermore, in the first type of coins, the
countries were parted which didn’t really suit the idea of a European unity. It was
thus necessary to modify these shekels, which permitted, in 2007, that these new
coins came into circulation. However, the number or the place of the stars on the
coins remained unchanged.
The current common faces
2 euros Common face
2007-...
1 euro Common face
2007-...
11
50 cents Common face
2007-...
20 cents Common face
2007-...
10 cents Common face
2007-...
Today, the Euro coins haven’t changed since then and have become a part of the
European citizens’ life, nineteen years after the idea of a common currency was born
in 1992.
12
II. The Euro: a symbol of the European diversity
Many European countries now use the Euro, so it can be considered as a
symbol of unity between the members of the European Union. However, the Euro
isn’t use by all the members of the Union, some countries such as Great Britain or
Sweden still keep their national money (the Pound and the Krona (Swedish Crown))
and refuse to adopt the Euro. So, the Euro, which is, at first sight, a symbol of the
unity of the European Union is also a proof of its internal-divisions.
We can also notice that the Euro coins are not exactly the same in each
European country. Indeed, if one of the coins’ faces is the same in the entire Euro
zone, the other side is completely different depending on the country. Why did the
European Union decide to create coins with different faces? Is it only a way to have
many differences in the coin’s design in an artistic goal? Or a way to assert each
country’s identity? To highlight the differences between countries which still exist in
spite of their Union? To show to Europe and to the World elements which can bring
pride to the country? Or, even a kind of propaganda for the regime of the country,
for instance? Anyway, these differences between the European countries’ coins are a
symbol of the divisions or at least the diversities which still exist within the Union.
So we are going to study the different kinds of images engraved on the
national coin’s face. In a first part we will see the national symbols, then the artistic
works or the monuments sometimes drawn on the coins and finally the personalities
represented.
(Some other European countries (Monaco, Vatican, and San Marino) have
their own Euro coins. However, because they don’t belong to the European Union,
we aren’t going to study them)
13
1) National symbols
Some countries decided to use national symbols on their coins. Indeed, it’s a way to
keep a bit of diversity inside the European Union.
These symbols are sometimes historic as for Austria where we can see the
Belvedere Palace on the € 0, 20. In 1955, a treaty was signed to re-establish the
sovereignty of the country. Today, it’s a symbol of freedom, and at the same time, a
symbol of one of the most beautiful baroque palaces in Austria.
€ 0, 20 Austrian coin
Germany decided to use historical symbol too. Indeed, the € 0, 10, € 0, 20 and € 0, 50
coins represent the Brandenburg Gate which used to be, a symbol a division of
Germany into two parts. It’s an important symbol because it’s related to the Second
World War. However, the Germans didn’t decide to use this coin as a way to remind
the war to each country, but as a way to show that they are open for unification with
the European Union (in fact, the door of the Brandenburg Gate is open on the coin).
€ 0,20 German coin
Portuguese € 0, 01 to € 0, 50 coins only represent a royal seal during the twentieth
century. Here it’s a way to remember the country’s past. These coins are a perfect
example to illustrate the volition of each country not to forget their own past without
the European Union. Nevertheless, € 1 and € 2 coins represent Portuguese castles and
coats of arms but it’s also a way to symbolise the exchange of values and the
dynamics of the European construction. Portugal has coins to remember its own past
14
and then its identity, but it also has coins to hope for a future with the European
Union, and maybe at last a common History.
€ 1 Portuguese coin
Coins symbols can also be traditional symbols. For example, we can talk about
Ireland, which decided to use only the Celtic harp on all its coins. We can read the
word Eire which means Ireland in Irish and the year when coins were created. Using
a symbol which represent at the same time, a culture, a history and a tradition is a
perfect way to assert its own identity. This is maybe a choice to show that they are
European, but their culture is still different.
€ 1 Irish coin
It’s almost the same case for Germany even if, as we have just seen, they also have
symbols send to the European Union. On € 1 and € 2 coins, we can see the Eagle
which is a traditional symbol of German sovereignty. Finally, Germans decided to
strike a balance between their own tradition and history with the Eagle and a
common history with the Brandenburg Gate.
€ 1 German coin
15
Eventually, the country which insists the most on its national symbols is
France. Indeed, on its € 0, 01 to € 0, 05 coins, we can see Marianne, symbol of the
French Republic, created during the French Revolution in the eighteenth century.
Marianne is really feminine and seems to be young and determined. At first sight, we
can think that is a way to assert its own tradition and history but it’s first of all sign
of hope for a strong and lasting European Union. On € 0, 10 to € 0, 50 coins, we can
recognize the sower which was a constant of the French “franc”. But the coin has a
new design to stress on the fact that France really wants to integrate the European
Union. That’s a new example which illustrates the volition of some countries such as
France not to forget the European motto “Unity in Diversity”. They keep their own
identity but they want to build a common future with others countries members of
the European Union.
€ 0, 20 French coin
At last, France doesn’t only have coins which show that it’s a member of the
European Union. Indeed, on its € 1 and € 2 coins, there is a tree, which symbolises
life, growth and continuity. This tree is inside a hexagon, which has the same form as
France territory. What’s more, France chose to use its motto “Liberté, Egalité,
Fraternité” in order to remind its people of it.
€ 1 French coin
16
2) Artistic coins’ faces When we look at our Euro coins, we can notice than on the national side of
many of them, artistic or craft works are represented. Among these symbols we can
find famous paintings, sculptures, drawings or great monuments.
Some countries have decided to use many art symbols such as Italy which
has chosen to adorn all its coins with artistic or architectural masterpieces from the
Italian culture.
Most of the Italian coins represent paintings made by famous Italian
painters such as Da Vinci or for the €0.10 coin Botticelli with The Birth of Venus, one
of his best-known works and also a symbol of the Renaissance, the artistic movement
which has spread since the XIVth century through Europe. Others were engraved
with the representation of sculptures created by artists like Boccioni.
€0.10 Italian coin
The one, two and five cents coins bear the representation of famous
monuments such as the Coliseum of Rome, the largest amphitheatre ever built in the
Roman Empire.
€0.05 Italian coin
We can wonder why Italy has decided to chose only works of art to engrave
on their coins. Maybe, it is a way to emphasize the importance of the country in the
European artistic culture. Indeed, Italy is considered as the birthplace of many great
artists, masterpieces and even artistic movements (such as the Renaissance).
17
However it can also be a means to insist on the importance of Arts and more
generally of culture in Europe.
Indeed, nowadays, one of the Europe’s wealth is its culture and many tourists
come to this continent only to see its monuments, its museums and masterpieces.
Perhaps, seeing these masterpieces on the coins we use everyday can remind us the
luck we have to own such a rich culture, not to forget our heritage…
Several other members of the European Union have also decided to chose, to
adorn their coins, famous monuments of their country and we can notice that among
these architectural works, many are religious monuments.
It shows the strong links which exist in Europe between arts and religion.
Indeed, many artworks, particularly old ones, are based on religion, have a religious
topic or were made to adorn shrines.
For instance, we can observe cathedrals on the national faces of the €0.01, €0.02
and €0.05 Spanish’s coins, which represents the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela,
one of the most important pilgrimage’s places in Europe, and on the ten cents
Austrian coin, where the famous St Stephen’s Cathedral of Vienna is drawn.
€0.05 Spanish coin
€0.10 Austrian coin
18
Finland has chosen a drawing to adorn its one euro coin. This drawing made
by Perti Maekinen and representing two swans flying away symbolizes the
independence of the country. This coin is a proof of the links between arts and
important events in the history. Other coins are representing artworks linked with
their countries’ history such as the Brandenburg Gate represented on the German
coins.
€1 Finish coin
Greece has also decided to engrave fragments of its history on its €0.01, €0.02,
€0.05 by representing former and recent Greek boats but also with its €1 coin. Indeed,
this coin was drawn as the former Athenian currency (the drachma) was made with,
on the national side, an owl as symbol for Athena, Athens’ patron goddess. Such a
choice can be justified by the fact that drachma corresponds to the period of the
heyday of Athens and of Greek culture, by extension. It’s a sort of reminder of
Greece’s former power but also, maybe of the roots of democracy: this value shared
by all the members of the European Union was born in Ancient Greece.
€1 Greek coin
This choice could also be regarded as a way to keep links, with this drawing,
between the new and the former currency…
19
3) Personalities represented
Sometimes, countries have chosen important personalities to represent their
territory on coins. All these personalities have had an impact on the culture or in the
history and policy of the country.
Some countries have decided to choose people who have participated in the
construction of the country’s culture. It’s for example the case of Austria which has
chosen Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a famous composer during the eighteenth
century. He was a genius and today almost everyone knows one of his music
compositions. It may be a pride for Austria, that’s why they have decided to choose
him.
€ 1 Austrian coin
Spain has decided to choose a famous writer, Miguel de Cervantes qualified as
the father of Spanish Literature during the sixteenth century. His most famous novel
is Don Quixote. Almost every European has heard of this novel. As for Austria, he is
a national pride known in every European country.
€ 0, 20 Spanish coin
However, most countries have decided to represent people who have had an
impact on which policy or on history. Sometimes, as for Belgium, Spain,
Luxembourg, and Netherlands, these people are none other than Kings, Duke or
Queen still in function today. They represent the country; in some ways they are a
national symbol. What’s more, concerning Queen Beatrix, she has received a price in
1996 to reward her efforts in the European unification.
20
€ 1 Dutch coin
Greece has chosen people who had an impact on the policy in the past. These
people didn’t have a direct link with other European countries. Here again it’s a way
for Greece to assert its own identity and its own history, a wealthy history. On the €
0, 10 coins, we can see Rigas-Fereos, a forerunner and a leading figure of the Greek
enlightenment. On the € 0, 20 coins, one other important political figure: Ioannis
Capodistrias. He was the first governor of Greece in 1830 just after the Greek
Independence War. At last, Eleftherios Venizelos was a pioneer of social reforms in
Greece during the end of the nineteenth century. He has also played a key role in
modernising the Greek state. All these men have tried to make Greece make strides
and it’s maybe a way for this country never to forget that it is because of great men
that it’s still here today with a democracy.
€ 0, 20 Greek coin
Finally, Austria also has an important personality, who symbolizes peace. This
person is Bertha von Suttner, a radical pacifist who illustrates Austria’s efforts over
many decades to support peace. That’s how we can see that each country wants to
come and join the European Union with its own history. They don’t want to let it and
to forget it. For example, Austria will always remember that it had to fight in the past
to preserve peace. Today, this country wants to let every others European countries
know through its coins.
21
€ 2 Austrian coin
Certainly, all the European euro coins are different, but we can say that, more
than a way to stay apart from the European Union, it is a means to allow each
country to appropriate the Euro. Indeed, it’s easy to convince so many countries to
forsake their own currency in favour of a new one which represents almost an entire
continent and not the country. Thus, having their own symbols on the coins maybe
helped the European countries adopt this new European currency without
completely abandoning their economic national identity. We are Europeans but we
have also a native and independent country that we don’t and won’t forget.
22
Conclusion :
Through all this report, we've been trying to find out whether this single and
common currency, that is the Euro, has contributed to gather some of the member
states of the European Union under the Europe Flag or whether it has brought up the
inner differences that those states have been trying to put aside in order to protect
peace. Searching for an answer, we came to realize that both of them were a reality:
the Euro is at the same time a symbol of unity and a symbol of diversity. Indeed, its
banknotes and coins' common faces are the embodiment of everything that has
united the European countries through all the eras but they are also a way to define
each specific culture of each European country thanks to the national faces of the
coins. Thus, the Euro is a living illustration of the European Union motto: "Unity in
diversity". Nevertheless, it can also be linked to an even older European symbol: the
myth of Europa. In fact, the euro sign (€) comes from the first Greek letter of the
word "Europe" which is said to come from the myth of Europa. According to the
Greek mythology, Europe was a beautiful princess, who was abducted by Zeus,
brought to Crete, and who gave birth to three sons – Minos, Rhadamanthys, and
Sarpedon, who all became judges on the Underworld. Zeus was the father of all the
children of Europe but he asked her to marry Asterion, the king of stars. Starting off
as a mortal woman in Greek Mythology, Europe became immortal after her name
was given to the continent. One legend says that Europe had a dream one night in
which two women – actually two continents –were arguing. One of them, Asia,
believed that Europe belonged to Asia, since she was born there. The other one with
no name -Europe - said Zeus would give the name to her. And that's how the
continent became what it is now : Europe.
Europa on the back of Zeus transformed in a white bull to seduce her
23
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presentation-et-symboles-3862.htm
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euro.html
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