National designs were not allowed to change until the end of 2008, unless a monarch (whose portrait usually appears on the coins) dies or abdicates.

[2][3][4] As the EU's membership has since expanded in 2004 and 2007, with further expansions envisaged, the common face of all euro coins from the value of 10 cent and above were redesigned in 2007 to show a new map.

Two more designs were added in 2008 with the entry of Cyprus and Malta and another one in 2009 with Slovakia, and four more for Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Croatia in 2011, 2014, 2015, and 2023, respectively.

The coins have been used from 2002, though some are dated 1999 which is the year the euro was created as a currency, but not put into general circulation.

[3] The reverse (used from 2007 onwards) was designed by Luc Luycx and displays a map of Europe on the left.

Six fine lines cut through the sea, breaking when passing through the map, and at their ends at the top and bottom are twelve stars (reflective of the flag of Europe).

All have to include twelve stars (in most cases a circle around the edge), the engraver's initials and the year of issue.