The euro countries also want to bring in large-scale euro coins in 2019. The European Central Bank (ECB) approved the production of coins totaling € 2.1 billion (previous year: € 2.2 billion). Of this amount, about 488 million euros are collector’s coins.
The ECB sets an annual limit on the total volume of coins on the basis of the demand reported by the 19 euro area countries. In this framework, the countries can then have the coins minted. Most of the money wants to produce Germany again.
Small cent coins controversial
Particularly controversial are 1- and 2-cent coins. Many consumers find it annoying because they make the purse thick and heavy. Despite the criticism of the coppered small change – measured by the number of pieces – most often produced small coins.
In 2016 and 2017, the euro countries each spent around 3.6 billion 1-cent coins and 2-cent pieces. For comparison: 1-euro coin and 2-euro coin were each about 1.6 billion times coined. However, it is estimated that about two-thirds of the small coins are lost or end up in piggy banks
