Euro gold and silver commemorative coins (Cyprus)

Republic of Cyprus
Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία (Greek)
Kypriakī́ Dīmokratía
Kıbrıs Cumhuriyeti (Turkish)
Location of Cyprus
ISO 3166 codeCY

Euro gold and silver commemorative coins are special euro coins minted and issued by member states of the Eurozone, mainly in gold and silver, although other precious metals are also used in rare occasions. Cyprus introduced the euro (€) on 1 January 2008. In 2000, in such a short time, the Central Bank of Cyprus has produced the first commemorative euro coin in silver. In 2010 the Central Bank of Cyprus has produced 2 more commemorative euro coin in gold and silver.

These special coins has a legal tender only in Cyprus, unlike the normal issues of the Cypriot euro coins, which have a legal tender in every country of the Eurozone. This means that the commemorative coins made of gold and silver cannot be used as money in other countries. Furthermore, as their bullion value[1] generally vastly exceeds their face value, these coins are not intended to be used as means of payment at all—although it remains possible. For this reason, they are usually named Collectors' coins.

The coins usually commemorate the anniversaries of historical events or draw attention to current events of special importance.

Summary

As of 3 November 2010, two variations of Cypriot euro commemorative coin has been minted. This special high-value commemorative coin is not to be confused with €2 commemorative coins, which are coins designated for circulation and do have legal tender status in all countries of the Eurozone.[2]

The following table shows the number of coins minted per year. In the first section, the coins are grouped by the metal used, while in the second section they are grouped by their face value.[3]

Year Issues   By metal   By face value
gold silver Others €20 €5
2008 1 – 1 – - 1
2009 0 - - – - -
2010 2 1 1 – 1 1
2011 0 - - – - -
2012 1 - 1 – - 1
2013 2 1 1 – 1 1
2014 1 - 1 - - 1
2015 1 - 1 - - 1
2016 1 - 1 - - 1
2017 1 - 1 - - 1
2018 1 - 1 - - 1
2019 1 - 1 - - 1
2020 1 - 1 - - 1
2021 2 1 1 – 1 1
2022 1 - 1 - - 1
2023 1 - 1 - - 1
2024 0 - - – - -
Total 17 3 14 – 3 14
  Coins were minted   No coins were minted   Scheduled to be minted

2008 Coinage

 Accession of Cyprus to the Eurozone[4]
Designer: Nicolas Loucas Mint: Mint of Finland
Value: €5 Alloy: Ag 925 (silver) Quantity: 15,000 Quality: Proof
Issued: 2008 Diameter: 38.61 mm (1.52 in)[5] Weight: 28.28 g (1.00 oz; 0.91 ozt)[5] Issue price: €38

Market value: €43-€49[6][7][8]

The obverse depicts the Coat of arms of Cyprus. The Greek text "Η ένταξη της Κύπρου στην ΟΝΕ 2008" (I entaxi tis Kyprou stin ONE 2008, "Integration of Cyprus into EMU 2008") can be easily seen.

The reverse depicts Cyprus connected with a ring to Europe, on a transfigured map.

2010 Coinage

Gold

 The 50th anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus[9]
Designer: Clara Zacharaki-Georgiou Mint: Bank of Greece / Mint
Value: €20 Alloy: Gold 971 Quantity: 750 Quality: Proof
Issued: 2010 Diameter: 22.05 mm (0.87 in)[10] Weight: 7.98 g (0.28 oz; 0.26 ozt)[10] Issue price: €500

Market value:

The obverse depicts the original emblem of the Republic of Cyprus, which coincides with the emblem of the Central Bank of Cyprus, the words «ΚΥΠΡΙΑΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ» and «KIBRIS CUMHURİYETİ» and the dates «1960-2010».

The reverse depicts a stylised tree with its complex branches embracing a pigeon. The coin's nominal value of €20 is also depicted.

Silver

 The 50th anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus[11]
Designer: Clara Zacharaki-Georgiou Mint: Bank of Greece / Mint
Value: €5 Alloy: Ag 925 (silver) Quantity: 5,000 Quality: Proof
Issued: 2010 Diameter: 38.61 mm (1.52 in)[12] Weight: 28.28 g (1.00 oz; 0.91 ozt)[12] Issue price: €40

Market value:

The obverse depicts the original emblem of the Republic of Cyprus, which coincides with the emblem of the Central Bank of Cyprus, the words «ΚΥΠΡΙΑΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ» and «KIBRIS CUMHURİYETİ» and the dates «1960-2010».

The reverse depicts a stylised tree with its complex branches embracing a pigeon. The coin's nominal value of €5 is also depicted.

2013 Coinage

50 Years of the Central Bank of Cyprus.

2014 Coinage

5 Euros – 100th. Anniversary of the birth and the 10th. Anniversary of the death of Costas Montis.

2015 Coinage

5 Euros – Aphrodite.

Notes

  1. ^ Precious metals in bulk form are known as bullion, and are traded on commodity markets. Bullion metals may be cast into ingots, or minted into coins. The defining attribute of bullion is that it is valued by its mass and purity rather than by a face value as money.
  2. ^ "Different types of euro coins". European Commission. Archived from the original on 16 February 2008. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
  3. ^ "Central Bank of Cyprus - Pictures and descriptions of euro collector coins".
  4. ^ "Accession of Cyprus to the euro area coin" (PDF). Cyprus Mint. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2008. Retrieved 18 October 2008.
  5. ^ a b "2008 Silver Collector Coin – Accession of Cyprus to the euro area – Technical Specifications" (PDF). Central Bank of Cyprus. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 March 2009. Retrieved 29 January 2009.
  6. ^ "Cypriot Euro Coins". The euro coins store. Retrieved 29 January 2009.
  7. ^ "Silver Commemorative Coins – Cyprus". Muntplaats Online Store. Retrieved 29 January 2009.
  8. ^ "Cypriot Silver Coins". Royal Scandinavian Mint. Archived from the original on 14 February 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
  9. ^ "The 50th anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus" (PDF). Cyprus Mint. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 November 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2010.
  10. ^ a b "Issue of gold collector coin of nominal value €20 – The 50th anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus – Technical Specifications" (PDF). Central Bank of Cyprus. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2010.
  11. ^ "Issue of silver collector coin of nominal value €5 – The 50th anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus" (PDF). Cyprus Mint. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 November 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2010.
  12. ^ a b "2010 Silver Collector Coin – The 50th anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus – Technical Specifications" (PDF). Central Bank of Cyprus. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2010.