What is the national side of a euro coin?
Every euro coin has two sides: a common side that is the same in every country, and a national side with a design chosen by the issuing country. The national side is what tells you where a coin comes from.
Countries are free to choose their own designs, but they follow shared guidelines. The national side is surrounded by the twelve stars of the European flag and should show the name or abbreviation of the issuing country, together with the year.
Some countries use one design for all denominations, while others use a different design per coin or per group of coins. Countries can also update their national sides, for example when a new head of state takes office.
Regardless of the design on the national side, every euro coin can be used in all euro-area countries. A Finnish €1 coin is just as valid in Spain as a Spanish one.
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Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the most common questions about National side.
Yes. Euro coins are legal tender throughout the euro area, regardless of which country's design is on the national side.
Both terms are used for the national side in different sources. To avoid confusion, collectors usually just speak of the national side and the common side.