THE GROWING EUROPEAN UNION

The European Union is undergoing its largest expansion ever, adding ten new countries to the Union.  It is expected that between 2007 and 2012 these nations  will drop their existing currency and switch to the Euro. Each nation has a different time table to make the switch.   This is expected to create a big demand for these nations old coins as collectors try to add these coins to their collections before they disappear.  We are pleased to offer you coins from these new European Union members.
 

NEW CYPRUS AND MALTA EURO SETS

In January 2008 the two newest Euro members, Cyprus and Malta, released their first official Euro coins into circulation.  Each set includes eight coins. Cyprus chose to place the Mouflon, a native wild sheep, on their 1, 2 and 5 eurocents, an ancient sailing ship on their 10, 20 and 50 eurocent and the ancient Idol of Pomos, a prehistoric fertility sculpture dating from about 3000BC on their bimetallic 1 and 2 Euro coins. The coins have the name of the island in both Greek and Turkish. Malta chose to place the Neolithic Mnajdra temple altar on their 1, 2 and 5 eurocents, the Malta arms on their 10, 20 and 50 eurocents and a Maltese Cross on their bi-metallic 1 and 2 Euro coins.  All coins have the common euro design on the reverse and are dated 2008. 
Item C-CY-EUSET    CYPRUS 8 COIN EURO SET, 2008 UNC.     $16.00
Item C-MT-EUSET    MALTA 8 COIN EURO SET, 2008  UNC.     out, waiting for more

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CYPRUS COIN SET

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HARD TO FIND MALTA COIN SET

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SLOVENIA - FIRST OF THE NEW EUROS!

In 2007 Slovenia, once the northernmost part of Yugoslavia, became the first of the former east European nations to adopt the Euro as their currency.  It replaced the Slovenian Tolar.  Because of the expansion of European Union the common side of the Euro coins have been redesigned to show the expanded European Union.  The Slovenian Euro coins are the first to use the new design.  The national side of the coins highlight Slovenian history culture.  The bi-metallic 2 Euro coin features national poet France Prešeren and the first line of the Slovenian national anthem which was written by him.  The bi-metallic 1 Euro pictures Primož Trubar, a 16th century Protestant reformer, superintendent of the Protestant Church of Slovenia and the author of the first book printed in Slovenian.  Mount Triglav, Slovenia's highest mountain and the constellation of cancer is featured on the 50 euro cent coin.   Two Lipizzaner horses are on the 20 euro cent coin. The 10 euro cent coin features the "Katedrala Svobode" (Cathedral of Freedom), a national parliament building that has never been built!  A man sowing stars and seeds is featured on the 5 euro cent coin.  The design is based on Ivan Grohar painting  "The Sower".  The 2 euro cent shows the Prince's Stone.  The stone was the base of an ancient Roman column. It was used to install the medieval prince's of Karatania.  A stork is on the 1 euro cent. Every coin has 12 stars around edge interspersed with letters spelling “SLOVENIJA”.    The coins are the first of what will be a major expansion of the Euro coin series.
Item L-SI-EUSET   SLOVENIA 8 COIN EURO SET, 2007  UNC.   $16.00
Item L-SI-1E  SLOVENIA 1 EURO COIN FROM ABOVE SET, UNC.  $3.50

ALSO SEE:
SLOVENIA 2 EURO TREATY OF ROME 2 EURO
NEW SLOVENIA BI-METALLIC 2 & 3 EURO COINS

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WILDLIFE FEATURED ON OBSOLETE COINS OF SLOVENIA

With the introduction of the Euro, Slovenia's attractive wildlife coins are now obsolete and are being withdrawn from circulation. All six of the Tolar denominated coins feature native wildlife.  The 1 Tolar features salmon, the 2 Tolar shows a swallow in flight, an ibex is on the 5 Tolar, the 10 Tolar shows a horse, the 20 Tolar pictures a stork and a bull is on the 50 Tolar.   It  is an attractive animal coin set.  The coins date from 1994 to 2005 and are Uncirculated.
Item L-SI-SET6  SLOVENIA 6 COIN ANIMAL SET 1-50 TOLAR, UNC.  $8.50

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PATTERN EURO COINS FROM SLOVENIA INCLUDE BI-METALS

Long before Slovenia ever issued its first Euro coin,  at least two private firms have already issued Euro pattern coins for the country.  A packaged set of nine pattern Euro coins dated 2004 was released by a British firm.  The coins include the 1 eurocent through the 5 Euro, dated 2004.  The coins are patterned after the actual Euro coins and include a bimetallic 1 and 2 Euro coin.  In keeping with the themes used on existing Slovenian coins, most coins picture native wildlife, including a bee, a bear, an ibex, and a man on horseback.  Included are two bi-metallic coins.  The coins are all brilliant Uncirculated.
Item C-SI-EUROSET04    SLOVENIA 2004 EURO PATTERN MINT SET, UNC. $25.00

Also see:
Slovenia Bi-metallic 500 Tolar coins

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This seven coin set includes the current coins of Latvia from 1 Santim to 1 Lats. A salmon is featured on the 2007 1 Lats.  The coins date from 1992 to 2007.  Latvia does not strike all denominations each year, and some coins were only struck in 1992, the first year Latvia issued coins after gaining independence after the collapse of the U.S.S.R. All coins are Uncirculated and feature the Latvian arms on the obverse..
Item S-LV-SET7  LATVIA 7 COIN SET 1 SANTIMS - 1 LATS,  1992-2007 UNC $11.00

This eight coin set from Lithuania includes the current 1 Centas to the 5 Litas.  The 1, 2 and 5 Centai were issued only one year, in 1991, shortly after Lithuania gained independence from the U.S.S.R.  Also included are the 10, 20, 50 Centas and 1 Litas and the bimetallic 2  Litas coin.  All eight coins feature Vytas, the white knight, who has been the Lithuanian state emblem since the 14th century.
Item L-LT-SET8   LITHUANIA 8 COIN SET 1 CENTAS - 2 LITAI, 1991-2002  UNC.  $7.50

This six coin set from Estonia includes the 5, 10, 20, 50 Senti, 1 Kroon and 5 Kroon dating from 1991 to 2003. Because Estonia is a relitively small country, not every denomination is issued each year,  In keeping with Estonian coinage tradition, the lower five denominations feature denomination is shown on one side in large numbers and the nations arms consisting of three heraldic lions on the other. The 1994 5 Krooni commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Estonian National Bank.  The coins are Uncirculated.
Item S-EE-SET6  ESTONIA 6 COIN SET, 1991-2003  UNC.  $5.75

In 1990 Poland started production on a new series of coins.  The coins were not introduced however until 1995.  At the time of the introduction the Zloty was revalued, so it took 10,000 of the old Zlotych to equal one new Zloty. This nine coin set includes the new 1 Groszy through the 5 Zlote.  The 2 and 5 Zlotych are bimetallic coins.  The coins feature the Polish Eagle on one side and the denomination on the other.
Item S-PL-SET9   POLAND 9 COIN SET 1 GROSZY - 5 ZLOTY, UNC.  (1990-2003) (KM276-284)  $9.75

This attractive six coin set includes both birds and flowers.  The 50 Forint portrays a falcon, while the 5 Forint shows an Egret.  An Iris is on the 20 Forint and a Colchicum is on the 2 Forint.  the 1 and 10 Forint portray the national arms.  The coins date from 1992 to 1996 and are Uncirculated.
Item S-HU-NEWSET    HUNGARY 6 COIN SET 1-50 FORINT 1992-96  UNC. $5.75

Also see:
POST-WAR HUNGARIAN INFLATION CURRENCY
BARGAIN COIN SET FROM THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF HUNGARY

The Slovak Republic was created out of the peaceful breakup of Czechoslovakia on January 1, 1993.  Though the nation may be new, its coins reflect its long heritage. The 10 Haleru features a 19th century wooden belfry. The 20 Haleru shows the Krivan mountain peak, a symbol of national sovereignty. The 50 Haleru shows a renaissance tower on the Danube.river.  The three Uncirculated coins date from 1993 to 1998.
Item S-SK-SET3  SLOVAKIA 3 COIN SET  10 HALERU - 50 HALERU UNC.  $1.75

This set of seven Uncirculated coins from the Czech Republic date from 1993 to 1997 and feature a crowned Czech lion on one side of the coins.  The attractive copper plated steel 10 Korun  shows the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Brno.  The 5 Korun shows the 13th century Charles Bridge in Prague. The bridge has been shown on coins of Czechoslovakia since the 1920's.   A piece of medieval Moravian jewelry that features a stylized bird is on the 2 Korun. The Crown of St. Wenceslas is on the 1 Korun.  Also included in the set is the aluminum 10, 20 and 50 Haleru.  Due to inflation the 10 and 20 were recently withdrawn from circulation, thus making them hard to obtain.
Item S-CZ-SET7  CZECH REPUBLIC 7 COIN SET 10 HALERU - 10 KORUN, UNC. $5.00