Uncommon Euro Coins Trivia Quiz

Answer: Vatican City

Three of the five different Vatican designs in just fifteen years feature the likeness of the three popes who reigned in that time - John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis. In addition, a "sede vacante" series was issued in 2005 between the tenures of John Paul and Benedict and Pope Francis, no longer wanting to be featured like a king, had the design changed from his likeness to his coat of arms in 2017, yielding a fifth series.

Answer: The Palazzo Pubblico (2 euro coin)

I hope that the coat of arms did not confuse you - it was used in the old series as well, but with a different rendering and on the 1 euro coin. Other designs used by San Marino include various renditions of the three towers and details from several pieces of art.

Answer: Malta

Believed to have been built sometime during the 4000s BC, Mnajdra is a megalithic structure that is believed to have been built in different stages. Although there is no historic documentation regarding the use of the structure, historians believe that it was used for animal sacrifice, as well as as an astronomical observatory. The people of Malta were asked to choose the design of their euro coins by voting in 2006, with the idea that the top-three voted designs would be used for the coins. Mnajdra came in third in the voting.

None of the other mentioned countries were members of the Eurozone by 2018.

(Question contributed by ponycargirl)

Answer: Estonia

In spite of its simplicity, the Estonian design did cause some controversy. A Russian lawyer claimed the outline was incorrect and did include territory now owned by Russia, while members of the Seto minority felt slighted over their (no longer Estonian) homeland not being included. In reality, the map outline is completely accurate and shows the current, internationally accepted, Estonian territory, no more and no less.

Croatia became the second country to include a map on its national side in 2023, but it only does so on the 2 Euro coin, not on all eight.

Answer: Monaco has an official agreement with the European Union.

Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City all originally had agreements with the states they were previously in a currency union with (France and Italy) allowing them to use and mint euro currency. Those were replaced by agreements with the entire European Union in the years 2010 to 2012.

Monaco's first 1 euro coin (issued between 2002 and 2005) was unique in that it not only showed Prince Rainier III, the reigning monarch but also the heir apparent, Prince Albert II. The new issues since 2006 only show Albert II.

Answer: It is where the General Council of Andorra meets.

The Casa de la Vall was originally constructed in 1580 as a manor for the Busquets family, however, the building is used today as a meeting place for the General Council of Andorra, which is their parliament. It consists of twenty-eight General Councillors that are elected to four year terms. The Constitution of Andorra was written there in 1993.

(Question contributed by ponycargirl)

Answer: Wild Sheep

The Cyprus mouflon is a species of wild sheep that can only be found in the island of Cyprus in the Paphos Forest. Historically an important source of food for people on the island, today the mouflon is a protected species. In the 1930s it was determined that its population feel to 15 in number. It is considered to be the national animal of Cyprus.

Incidentally, other Cypriot euro coins are decorated with the Kyrenia ship, and ancient Greek ship that was wrecked and eventually found near the town of Kyrenia in Cyprus, and the Idol of Pomos, which is a prehistoric sculpture dating back to the 3000s BC.

(Question contributed by ponycargirl)

Answer: They are not actually being circulated in Finland.

Like its neighbor country Sweden, Finland has removed the smallest coins from circulation. Goods have prices with the normal one cent accuracy, but the final tab is rounded to the nearest 5 cents (1, 2, 6 and 7 round down while 3, 4, 8 and 9 round up) and most stores will not accept 1 and 2 cent coins regardless of issuing country.

The coins are however legal tender. Collector demand for the small denominations from Finland is relatively high, and significant numbers are minted every year.

Answer: Austria

Private designers were selected to work out the images that would be seen on Slovenia's euro coins. The Prince's Stone is a part of an ancient Ionic column that was used to install medieval princes of Carantania, located in present-day southern Austria. Today it is housed in a museum in Klagenfurt, the capital of the area which is now called Carinthia. While several historians have stated that the image of the Prince's Stone does not belong on coins from Slovenia, concerns from sides have not been seriously considered by the Slovenian government.

(Question contributed by ponycargirl)

Answer: They must all be 2 euro coins.

The commemorative 2 euro coins - unlike bullion coins or special national designs - are legal tender in the entire Eurozone. They are minted in relatively high quantities and are intended to be circulated instead of just being bought by collectors. While each design is up to the issuing country, other countries can veto it if the coin would conflict with its interests.

This happened, for example, with a 2015 design submitted by Belgium to commemorate the 200-year anniversary of the battle of Waterloo.

It shouldn't be a surprise that the vetoing nation was France.