What does legal tender mean for euro coins?
A coin that is legal tender is officially recognised as money. Regular euro coins and €2 commemorative coins are legal tender in every euro-area country, no matter which country issued them.
Some countries outside the European Union, such as Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City and Andorra, also issue euro coins under agreements with the EU. Their coins are legal tender throughout the euro area too, although they are rarely found in circulation.
Euro collector coins with other face values, such as €5, €10 or higher, are a different story. They are only legal tender in the country that issued them and are mainly sold to collectors, often for more than their face value.
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Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the most common questions about Legal tender.
Yes. They are legal tender throughout the euro area, although many collectors value them above their face value.
Only in the country that issued it, and even there shops are not always willing to accept it. Most collectors keep these coins in their collection instead.