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

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

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 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.

Despite using the Latin alphabet, Austria repeats the denomination on its coins, but in words in the German language.