Color on European Coins: Is it Art or Just Clutter?
Are colored European coins a creative enhancement or an unwelcome alteration? While some collectors embrace the vivid designs, others—including the European Commission—view them as a violation of numismatic tradition.
Coins with color applications are a controversial topic in European numismatics. While many collectors adore the colorful embellishments, other numismatists, including the European Commission, see the modification of a coin’s design as taboo. The organization considers €2 commemorative coins with color applications as “damage to Euro coins for artistic purposes.” As a result, €2 commemorative coins with official coloration remain rare exceptions, and collectors had to wait six years after the last issue in 2018 for another opportunity to expand their collections.
In 2024, however, two exceptions emerged: France decided to issue its second €2 commemorative coin of the year, themed “2024 Paris Olympic Games / Olympic Torch,” in proof quality with a mintage of 20,000. The coin features a small floral symbol designed in the country’s national colors. Portugal also honored the Olympic Games with a €2 coin, where the heart is painted red, and the surrounding dots are multi-colored.
That there would be any further officially colored €2 coins at all was a surprise to collectors. As early as 2010, the European Commission issued a recommendation advising member states not to support colorized coins, saying at best that toleration might be conceivable. This is because the EU’s technical specifications for Euro coins do not allow for color applications. And since €2 commemorative coins are considered “circulating coins with a commemorative character,” they formally should not exist, and privately colorized variations lose their status as legal tender.
However, the EU has tolerated color experiments from the Netherlands and France to date because they are produced in small quantities, packaged separately, and thus are not typically used as legal tender. It is unlikely they ever would be, given that official €2 commemorative coins with color applications today carry significant collector value. As official variants of the respective issued coins, they enjoy high regard among Euro coin collectors.
Until 2024, only a handful of €2 commemorative coins were officially colorized by state authorities after their initial minting. In 2008, France issued the coin for its EU Council presidency with a yellow overlay. The Monnaie de Paris produced this special edition on behalf of the European Commission, with a mintage of 5,000 coins packaged in numbered blister packs and distributed to EU employees as gifts.
Five years later, the Netherlands followed suit with a color effect on the €2 coin commemorating 200 years of the kingdom. The coin depicts the outlines of six former Dutch monarchs alongside the current king, Willem-Alexander. Among the 1,500 proof-quality coins produced, the band outlining King Willem-Alexander was painted orange.
In 2014, France added another example with a coin dedicated to the fight against AIDS. For both the 10,000 uncirculated and 10,000 proof coins issued, an AIDS ribbon was smoothed and painted red. An unusual detail: the area beneath the ribbon is also polished smooth; typically, coins in mint condition feature vertical ridges in that area.
In recent years, joint issues have occasionally been officially colorized. In 2015, the Netherlands released a collector‘s set of the "European Flag" coin in proof quality, featuring three variations: one with a blue EU flag, a second with figures around the EU flag alternating in blue and yellow, and a third version with seven figures painted in red, white, blue, yellow, orange, green, and black.
To date, all officially colorized €2 coins share two common characteristics: they have shown strong value appreciation due to their rarity, and none are intended for circulation. These coins were issued either as proof-quality collector coins or in coin cards—hence, it is likely that the European Commission will continue to tolerate their release without interference. As official colorized coins remain a rarity within the €2 series, their reappearance after many years without experiments is likely to be warmly welcomed by collectors.
Color on Coins: A New Trend or an “Old Hat?”
In fact, colorized coins are nothing new. As early as the 1990s, a Swiss company brought one of the first colorized coins to market. The technique of applying color to coins also has a long tradition in Asia. A notable example is one of the world’s most sought-after collectibles, the “Panda” series, which includes coins with color applications.
The technique of color application has evolved significantly over the years. Early methods, such as pad printing, allowed precise color application but offered limited durability. Modern technologies like UV printing and laser methods enable brilliant colors with high durability, highlighting even the smallest details.
In addition, mints have experimented with fluorescent and thermosensitive colors to make coins even more innovative. The process requires the utmost precision, as the color layers must be applied millimeter-perfect to avoid obscuring the underlying relief.
German Coins Were Long Colorless
Many mints, including the five German state mints, had long hesitated to produce coins with color applications. Applying precise color accents on a coin’s surface was considered a significant technical challenge. Over the past few years, however, the technology has made great strides. Colors were initially applied to coins using flat films, and later, direct printing onto the coin metal was adopted. Yet, manual enhancement remains the pinnacle of coin artistry.
In Germany, collectors had to wait relatively long for official coins with color applications. Finally, in 2019, the German government decided to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Weimar Constitution with a special €20 silver coin featuring its flag’s black, red, and gold coloring. This idea was well-received by collectors, and since 2020, €20 coins with color effects have been issued regularly. Examples include the Baron Münchhausen uniform in 2020, the mouse from the WDR children’s series in 2021, the coat of arms for the 50th anniversary of the German Children’s Fund in 2022, and a rose for Loriot’s 100th birthday in 2023.
These silver coins were produced using the pad printing process, which only allows a few solid colors. For more options, modern digital printing technology enables color gradients and photorealistic details through abrasion-resistant ink.
This method was first applied to the base metal of the German “Wonderful World of Insects” series. However, collectors experienced the pitfalls of this new technique firsthand. Shortly after the release of the €5 “Rusty Mason Bee” coin in 2023, complaints emerged that the color was peeling. A major German coin company admitted that about one-quarter of its stock had to be returned. The likely cause? The coins were rolled too soon before the color had thoroughly dried, causing some to shed entirely. Another dealer reported serious issues, with around one-third of their batch rejected and sent back.
Recently, a collector discovered significant color misalignments on several newly delivered €5 coins from a September 26, 2024, release of the series. Some coins had unprinted areas, and one was completely missing its color, sparking excitement among collectors. Coins with off-center designs have sold for around €49, while a colorless version has fetched €299, offering collectors a chance to see their coins increase in value by up to 60 times their original €5 value.
Niobium Coins from Austria: More Than Just a Splash of Color
In Europe, one type of coin has particularly paved the way for the use of color: Austria’s niobium coins, which are highly popular among collectors. When the Austrian Mint introduced the new series of coins in 2003, the initial reception was subdued; they featured a color overlay but were considered a novelty. Some numismatists expressed concern that even a mint as traditional as the Austrian Mint had joined the trend of colorized coins. By 2004, the tide had turned, and the niobium coins became extremely sought-after; the 50,000-coin mintage of the 2004 issue attracted over 75,000 orders.
In 2023, niobium coins from Austria celebrated their 20th anniversary. The Austrian Mint describes the coins as colorful, diverse, and future-oriented. Since its start in 2003, the Mint has selected "exciting contemporary themes in science and research" for the series, ensuring that these modern coins do not merely depict groundbreaking inventions and visionary concepts but represent "an extraordinary result of innovation."
The first niobium coin commemorated the 700th anniversary of the town of Hall in Tirol, featuring a 1486 guldiner alongside an Earth observation satellite. The series continued in 2004 with a coin dedicated to the Semmering Railway. By 2023, it had expanded to include a coin that is themed around global warming. Several coins in the series have won awards, including those issued in 2020 and 2021.
Austria’s niobium coins consist of a niobium core encircled by a silver ring with a fineness of 900/1000. Until 2006, the coins had a total weight of 17.15 grams, with 10 grams of silver and 7.15 grams of niobium. The mintage then increased to 65,000 coins per year, and from 2007 onward, the niobium core’s weight was reduced to 6.5 grams.
The Austrian Mint invested two years in research and development to create the first niobium coin. Working in collaboration with the manufacturing company Plansee, the Mint developed a process that transformed the previously gray surface of niobium into a vivid color effect. The core is made of niobium, while the ring is crafted from silver.
Niobium coins achieve their colors not through paint application but via precisely controlled oxidation. A microscopically thin oxide layer is created on the coin’s surface, which reflects different colors depending on its thickness. This process, known as anodic oxidation, results in transparent colors that preserve the metal’s natural shine.
The Austrian Mint produces niobium coins in stable, enduring colors such as pink, yellow, green, and blue. These coins featured a single color until the Mint began incorporating multiple shades in its designs in 2014. The technical process may sound complex, but the results captivate even those who paid little attention in physics or chemistry classes.
Silver-niobium coins, with a face value of €25, are highly popular as collectibles and gifts. Most issues are sold out and can only be acquired at significantly higher prices by coin dealers. The issue price of the first niobium coin in 2003 was €56.40, and today, it costs at least €400. The second issue originally sold for the same price of €56.40 and now has a market value of at least €200.
The Most Popular Themes Among European Colorized Coins
Colorized coins have become an integral part of European numismatics. In particular, France is well-known for its colorful commemorative coins, such as those in the series celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Moon Landing or honoring works of art like the “Mona Lisa.” Portugal frequently produces colorful collector coins, including those in its series dedicated to discoveries or natural themes like flowers and birds. Italy applies color to coins that depict famous art and cultural symbols, like the Sistine Chapel or works by Leonardo da Vinci. Spain also issues coins with color themes related to historical events or nature, commemorating the Alhambra or the World Championships. Austria, known for its experimental approach, is also a key player.
Certain trends emerge when comparing the most popular themes of colorized coins internationally. Animal motifs are particularly trendy among European collectors, and glow-in-the-dark coins from Austria (such as the “Animal Taler” series) and classic collector coins (the “Archangel” series) rank among the bestsellers.
Electroplating: The Future of Color Applications?
Meanwhile, another form of enhancement—though not entirely new—appears poised to become the next big trend in European numismatics: the electroplating of coins. Through electroplating, coins or medals are coated with a thin layer of a precious metal such as gold, silver, or rhodium. While this effect has long been associated with mail-order and television shopping, in 2023, Malta officially became the first Eurozone country to issue electroplated commemorative coins, and Croatia followed in 2024. One thing is for sure: this development underscores that special effects are now an inseparable part of European numismatics.
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