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Thursday, 29 October 2020

1530) I) "Europa Coin Programme" or the "European Star Programme" or the "Eurostar Programme" II) The Fabrica Nacional Moneda y Timbre - Real Casa de Moneda have issued their fifth and final Gold (200 Euros) and Silver (10 Euros) Proof Coins focussing on the Gothic Era (which is a part of the wider programme focussing on the "Ages of Europe": Year of Coin issue: 09/2020:

1530) I) "Europa Coin Programme" or the "European Star Programme" or the "Eurostar Programme" II)  The Fabrica Nacional Moneda y Timbre - Real Casa de Moneda have issued their fifth and final Gold (200 Euros) and Silver (10 Euros) Proof Coins focussing on the Gothic Era (which is a part of the wider programme focussing on the "Ages of Europe": Year of Coin issue: 09/2020:

The Europa Coin Programme:

The Europa Coin Programme is an initiative dedicated to issuing collector coins in precious metals which celebrate European identity.

Coins under this series are issued by the European Union's Eurozone Member States and the issuing authorities of the European Union Member Countries voluntarily contribute coins to the Europa Coin Programme.

The Europa Star Series highlights European achievements, anniversaries and common history or cultural ties.

Several countries have taken part in this programme since its inception in 2004.

Some coins are denominated in Euros, while others are denominated in other currencies. These coins are all legal tender.

The Eurostar logo:

The Eurostar logo is a special mark used on these coins which signify that they have been issued under the "Euro Coin Programme". The design of the logo is a stylised combination of an "E" (for Europe or the Euro Symbol) and a "Star" (often used to symbolise a member nation, for example, on the EU Flag).

                                                        The Eurostar logo

It is a requirement that the coins must show the "Eurostar" distinctly and visibly to the naked eye, but not be integral to  the coin's design.

Other Standard Features for coins issued under the Europa Programme:

a) The coins must be at least .900 Fine Silver or Gold and of Proof Quality.

b) The coins should be approx. "Crown sized", which allows for national traditions and customs.

c) The coins must show the Eurostar logo distinctly.

The themes over the past years for the Eurostar Programme Coin issues are:

2004 - EU Enlargement

2005 - Peace and Freedom

2006 -Distinguished European Figures

2007 - European Realisation

2008 - Cultural Heritage

2009 - European Heritage

2010 - European Architecture

2011 - European Explorers

2012 - European Visual Arts

2013 - European Writers

2014 - European Composers

2015 - Anniversary of the UNO

2016 - The Ages of Europe (through to 2020)

           a) 2017 - The age of Iron and Glass

           b) 2018 - Baroque and Rococo

           c) 2019- Renaissance

           d) 2020 - Gothic

The Fabrica Nacional Moneda y Timbre - Real Casa de la Moneda has issued three coins featuring - the Cathedral of Saint Mary of Toledo, Maria de Molina  and the Stained Glass Panes of Santa Maria de Leon Cathedral in 2020:

The Fabrica Nacional Moneda y Timbre - Real Casa de la Moneda has released in 2020, Gold and Silver Coins under the Europa Star Coin Series.

This year, the Five Ages of Europe Series continues with the focus being on the Gothic Era. The period is divided into Early Gothic (1150-1250), High Gothic (1250-1375) and International Gothic (1375-1450) and spread to all Western Europe, as well as, much of Southern and Central Europe.

Characteristically, Gothic is identified in terms of Architecture as ornate and dramatic with intricately detailed stonework and stained glass, especiallyin cathedrals and churches.

The Spanish coins feature three elements of cultural life which reflect this period. The depictions include:

1) The Cathedral of Saint Mary of Toledo:

A Roman Catholic Church located in Toledo, a well-known city located in the centre of Spain, the Cathedral of Toledo is one of the three 13th Century Gothic cathedrals in Spain and is considered to be the Magnum Opus of the Gothic style in Spain.

2) Maria de Molina:

Maria de Milina was a woman of great renown in the Middle Ages. 

She is remembered in Spanish history as the woman who contributed to three different reigns throughout her life, and whose political acumen was decisive for the continuation of the Castilian Crown, leading to the consequential unification of the Kingdom of Spain as it is known today.

3). Stained Glass Panes of Santa Maria de Leon Cathedral:

One of the most relevant examples of the Gothic style in Spain is the Santa Maria de Leon Cathedral, which is the best known for its stained glass windows.

With at least 1,764 square metres of surface, most of it containing the original windows, it is considered to be one of the most extensive and best-preserved collections of medieval stained glass in Europe.

The Coins:

This issue comprises of two coins - one each in Gold (200 Euros) and Silver (10 Euros).

The Reverses of both the coins depict an image of Toledo's Cathedral (to the left), a portrait of Maria de Molina and a detail of one of the stained  glasses   of Leon's Cathedral (to the bottom), all three     in oval panes.

In the bottom right corner is the mintmark - "A Crown above a Latin M".

The Silver strikes include a colour application to depict a greater detail and depth of the stained glass.

The Common Obverses for the fifth Europa Series is the work of artisans from the Monnaie de Paris (the Paris Mint) and features a large off-centre star in the background.

For the Spanish coins, an effigy of King Don Filipe VI facing left, is centred. The inscriptions are "GOTICO (meaning "Gothic") towards the upper periphery, in the centre - "FILIPE VI REY DE ESPANA" (meaning "Filip VI, King of Spain"). To the centre right is the year of issue: 2020, while the Europa Star logo is placed on the bottom/lower periphery. 

The Specifications of the Gold and silver variants are:

The Gold variant:

Theme: Gothic (The Ages of Europe); Country: Spain; Denomination: 200 Euro; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Gold (Au); Weight: 13.5 grams; Diameter/Size: 30.0 mm; Coin Quality: Proof; Mint: Real Casa de la Moneda;  Mintage: 2,500 pieces.

The Silver variant:

Theme: Gothic (The Ages of Europe); Denomination: 10 Euro; Metal Composition: .925 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 27.05 grams; Diameter/Size: 40.0 mm; Coin Quality: Proof with applied colour; Mint: Real Casa de la Moneda; Mintage: 5,000 pieces.

Each Gold and Silver Coin is encapsulated and presented in a custom Real Casa de la Moneda Case and is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (COA).

The Spanish coins are also referred to in their traditional Spanish denominations of Four Escudos (Gold) and Eight Reales (Silver).










Links:
For posts on coins issued under the Eurostar Coin Programme, please visit the following links:


6) Leonardo da Vinci, France: The latest issue from the Monnaie de Paris, France highlights him on the latest Europa Silver Star Coin Programme issued by the Paris Mint: Coin issue date: 03/2019

7) i) "Europa Coin Programme" or the "European Star Programme" or the "Eurostar Programme" ii) Central Bank of Malta issues 50 Euro (Gold) and 10 Euro (Silver) Proof Coins featuring "Architecture and artwork of the Gothic Era" in 05/2020 (which is a part of the wider programme focussing on the ages of Europe: Date of Coins issue: 08.05.2020


Interesting links to posts on Portugal and Spanish Coins and postage stamps on this blog:








9) "Nacional Museo del Prado", Spain: Celebrating the Bicentenary milestone (1819-2019): Commemorative Silver Coins of 30 Euros issued by Fabrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre - Casa Real de la Moneda on 20.11.2019: Coins minted by the Madrid Mint




For more interesting posts on Coins and stamps of Portugal, please visit the following links:




5) "The Joker", Portugal: Portugal Post has issued a set of four stamps featuring "The Joker"character of DC Comics, who is an archenemy of the "Batman": Date of Stamp issue: 31.03.2020

6) Portuguese Numismatics (1st Group): A set of four Stamps in the values of N20g, A20g, E20g and 120g issued by CTT Correios (Portuguese Post) in partnership with INCM ("Imprensa Nacional-Casa da Moeda (the "Portuguese Mint & Official Printing Office") depicting coins from various periods of history: Date od Stamp set issue: 22.04.2020



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