2018-01-12 Fri

A circulating commemorative €2 coin is being released by Germany to celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of the German statesman Helmut Schmidt. Schmidt served as the fifth Federal German minister of defense from 21st September 1969, to 10th July 1972. Before that, he was a chancellor from 1974 to 1982.

The obverse features a portrait of Schmidt. Inscriptions include HELMUT SCHMIDT, the years 1918–2015, a Mint mark – D, year of issuance 2018 and initials of the artist. 30 million coins are being issued equally between the five German mints. It will be released during the World Money Fair in Berlin from 2nd to 4th February. The 8.5 grams ringed-bimetallic coin has a copper-nickel core and copper-aluminum-nickel ring containing the 12 stars of the European flag. The reverse features a map of the European Union.