Cancelled commemorative euro coins

Since 2004, all countries in the Eurozone have been allowed to issue commemorative 2 euro coins. You can read more about this in a previous article. Because it is allowed to use these euro coins in the whole eurozone, there are different rules which apply to these coins. These rules are formulated by COUNCIL REGULATION (EU) No 729/2014. One of the measures is that issuing Member States should inform each other and the Commission about draft designs. Any other Member State may raise an objection to a draft design. The objection should be raised with a reasoned opinion in accordance with Article 10 of the regulation.

A lot of commemorative 2 euro coins have been issued since. Some proposed coins have been cancelled (for different reasons). In this article you can read about the cancelled coins, their designs and the reason why they where cancelled.

2026 - Bulgaria - Bulgarian Alphabet

In 2026 Bulgaria joined the eurozone. Bulgaria planned its very first 2 euro commemorative coin to celebrate the Cyrillic script. When the design was shared with the Commission and the other Member States, Greece filed an objection in the EU Council. The objection targeted the specific phrasing "Bulgarian Alphabet", raising concerns that it nationalized a shared regional heritage and could set a precedent for future Eurozone entrants to claim localized variants (like the "Macedonian" or "Serbian" alphabet). Unable to secure Council approval, the design was halted.

2025 - Greece - 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Manos Hadjidakis

In January 2025, Greece announced two commemorative coins. Both coins honored a Greek composer. A few weeks later, the Greek Ministry of Finance changed the plan. The second coin honoring Manos Hadjidakis was withdrawn in favor of a coin commemorating the 200th anniversary of Laskarina Bouboulina's death. Rumors say it was due to diversification and to pay tribute to a prominent female figure in Greek history.

2020 - Luxembourg - 75th Anniversary of the Signing of the United Nations Charter

Luxembourg has strict national numismatic regulations on commemorative coins next to the legislation imposed by the EU. These strict regulations include that a sudden dynastic or royal event takes immediate precedence over historical anniversaries. In 2020, Luxembourg originally planned a commemorative coin on signing the United Nations Charter. The impending birth of Prince Charles, a new royal heir to the Grand Ducal family, forced the mint to drop the UN theme entirely to make room for a coin celebrating the birth.

2019 - Italy - 100 Years of the Associazione Nazionale Alpini

2019 was the year that Italy planned a coin to commemorate 100 years of the Associazione Nazionale Alpini. The historic mountain infantry corps was founded in 1919.

The coin design contains an Alpine soldier climbing a mountain. The coin was designed by Silvia Petrassi.

An official reason for the cancellation was never shared. The rumors among numismatics suggest that the Alpini played a controversial role in the Second World war. Both Germany and Greece vetoed the design citing historical sensitivities.

2015 - Belgium - 200 Years Since the Battle of Waterloo

Belgium wanted to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo in 2015. The proposed design of the coin depicted the Lion's Mound, which commemorates the spot on the battlefield of Waterloo where the Prince of Orange was wounded in battle. The 2 euro coin was commemorating the defeat of Napoleon in 1815. It quickly became controversial; France sent a formal compliant to the EU Council saying that it could provoke outrage in France. Other Eurozone countries supported this. The European Commission stood with France in this case and the design was withdrawn in March 2015. To commemorate this event, Belgium minted a 2,50 euro coin instead, which is restricted to legal tender within the country.

2013 - San Marino - 50th Anniversary of the Death of John F. Kennedy

In 2013, San Marino planned to issue a 2 euro coin to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of John F. Kennedy. San Marino scheduled the issue of the coin on June 7th, but they withdrew the release. This was due to Article 9 of the regulation, which states that a commemorative coin 'shall only commemorate subjects of major national or European relevance'.

We hope you have found this article interesting and informative. If any new proposed commemorative 2 euro coins do make it through the commission, they will be added to Coinection so you can add it to your collection!