Normal coins are those used in day-to-day purchases, which are issued for circulation purposes.

There are eight euro denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, €1 and €2.

They have a common or ‘European’ side and a national side. The national side indicates the issuing country.

Common side

The common sides of the coins were designed by Luc Luycx, and show different variants of the EU map against a backdrop of parallel lines linking the twelve stars of the EU flag.

The 1, 2 and 5 cent coins show Europe in relation to Africa and Asia on a globe.

The 10, 20 and 50 cent coins represent the European Union as a group of individual countries.

The €1 and €2 coins show the European Union as an integrated whole, without borders.

Following the EU enlargement in 2004, the 10, 20 and 50 cent, €1 and €2 coins issued as of 2007 show a geographical image of Europe.

National side

Unlike banknotes, euro coins vary across the euro area. In addition to a common side, coins have a national side.

The national side indicates the issuing country and depicts familiar national motifs, surrounded by the twelve stars of the EU flag.

Currently, Member States are not allowed to change national designs, unless a monarch (whose portrait appears on the coins) dies or abdicates. 

In Portugal, the national side was designed by Vítor Manuel Fernandes dos Santos, a sculptor, and its centrepiece features the seals of the first King of Portugal, Afonso Henriques.

Each of the three seals is set within a circle of five coats of arms and seven castles. Also featured are the twelve stars of the EU flag and the year of minting.

1, 2 and 5 cent – depict the first royal seal, from 1134, along with the inscription ‘PORTUGAL’; 

10, 20 and 50 cent – depict the royal seal of 1142; 

€1 and €2 – depict the royal seal of 1144.