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.

In 2004 the commemorative coins were allowed to be minted in six states (a short interim period was set aside so citizens could get used to the new currency).

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.

The reverse (used from 2007 onwards) was designed by Luc Luycx and displays a map of Europe, not including Iceland and cutting off, in a semicircle, at the Bosporus, north through the middle of Ukraine and Belarus and through northern Scandinavia.

Across the map is the word EURO, and a large number 2 appears to the left hand side of the coin.

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

The coin must show the normal design criteria, such as the twelve stars, the year and the issuing country.

Germany has begun issuing one coin a year for each of its states (the German Bundesländer series which will take it up to 2021.

There are €2 commemorative coins that have been issued on the same topic by different member states, two (by Belgium and Italy) to celebrate Louis Braille's 200th birthday, four (by Italy, Belgium, Portugal and Finland) to celebrate 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, two (by Germany and France) to commemorate 50 years of the Elysee Treaty (1963–2013) and three (by Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the independent Baltic states.

Exceptionally, they are allowed to issue another, provided that it is a joint issuance and commemorates events of European-wide importance.

If a euro area country intends to issue a €2 commemorative coin it has to inform the European Commission.

The Official Journal is the authoritative source upon which the ECB bases its website updates on euro coins.

The website of the EU – DG for Economic and Financial Affairs is not specific on the topic of proposing themes for €2 commemorative coins.

A problem has arisen in differentiation of coins made using similar blanks and minting techniques.