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The : a

Of the European

Unity?

Parveen REMTOULA TS3 Marie LANDRIOT TS2 Morgane POUPARD TS2 Claire AMIOT TL

1 Introduction:

The idea of a European was born in the sixties. However; this idea hadn’t been materialized before the beginning of the nineties with the Treaty of Maastricht (in 1992). It set the Euro as one of the ’s economic goals: the creation of a single and common currency for the member states of the Union, which would replace the former national of each country such as, for instance the French “” or the Italian “”. Then, in 1999, eleven founding countries joined the euro zone: , , , , , , the , , , Ireland and . At first, the reluctance of some of the countries belonging to the UE curbed the idea of the Euro, such as Germany whose mark was ranked just after the dollar and the yen. Nevertheless, and coins were finally in circulation in January 2002. After overcoming a few obstacles, the euro has become in a decade a real symbol of the European unity as well as the Ninth Symphony by Beethoven or the European flag. Today, in 2011, seventeen countries are members of the euro zone. It represents more than 322 millions of inhabitants using the euro. What’s more, many European countries want to join the euro zone such as , , and … Because of that, it is important to learn more about the symbolic of the currency. Indeed, the Euro is not exactly the same for every country, the design can change depending on which country made it. For example, the Euro made by France is not exactly the same as the Euro made by Italy. That’s why we are going to analyse in a first part the euro as a real symbol of a European unity and in a second part, we are going to see that it is also a way to assert each country’s national identity.

In blue, the members of the euro zone

2 I. The Euro as a symbol of unity 1) The banknotes

Euro each are the same, they are a symbol of unity in . In fact, they represent a period in architecture which has united Europe. Every banknote has a face representing the facade of a building and a bridge symbolizing a period of the architecture’s History which has united Europe. It is spread over the European history of architecture (for example, the classical architecture for the 5€ banknote). It’s not representing some precise monuments; it’s inspired by some monuments of the period; not to exclude any country, thus all the European countries can identify their monuments as the one on the banknote. The façade of the buildings at the recto symbolizes the open-mindedness and the European Union’s cooperation; over this image we can see the twelve stars of the European flag which illustrate the harmony of modern Europe. The bridge at the back of the banknote symbolizes the link which unify European people together, with the rest of Europe and with the rest of the world.

On the banknote we can also find the name of the currency in the Roman writing style and in the Greek writing style, and the different initials of the European bank the European citizen can find.

There are 7 different and symbols we can see on it:

3 The 5€ banknote represents the classical architecture. This type of architecture was created by the Roman Empire and Greek people during the Antiquity. (for example, the Tholos temple which is the sanctuary of in Delphi in )

The 10€ banknote represents the Romanesque period. This is is an architectural style of Medieval Europe. The Romanesque period lasted approximately from 800 A.D. to 1100 A.D. (For example, the cathedral of Lisbon, in Portugal)

4 The 20€ Banknote symbolise the Gothic architecture. This is the evolution of the Romanesque architecture. It is also called “the French style” as it came from France. It started in the 12th century and it ended in the 16th century (for example, The Reims cathedral in France).

The 50€ Banknote is the symbol of the Renaissance period. This style emerged because people wanted to come back to something simpler than in classical architecture after the gothic period which was more complicated. (for example, The Dome of St Peter's Basilica, )

5 For the 100€ Banknote, the period represented is baroque and rococo. The baroque style is opposed to the classical style; the classical style is made of straight line whereas the baroque is made of curves. The rococo architecture is the continuation of the baroque style (for example, Augustusburg Palace near Cologne for the baroque style and the Rococo Basilica at Ottobeuren in Bavaria for the rococo style).

The 200€ Banknote show the architectural period called “iron and glass architecture”. This architectural period refers to the Victorian Era and to the industrial period. At that time, the architects used a lot of iron for the construction. (For example, the Eiffel tower in Paris in France)

The 500€ Banknote is the symbol of the modern architecture. This is today’s architecture.

The 500€ Banknote will probably soon disappear because it is not often used.

6 2) The coins’ common faces

Although in 1992 the Treaty of Maastricht set the Euro as the common currency between the member states of the European Union part of the Euro zone, it’s in 1996 in Verona, four years later, that the characteristics of the future European coins were decided by the Economic and Finance Ministers in the bosom of the EcoFin. According to the wish of the majority, they agreed that only one of the faces of the coins would be common while the other one would let the national diversities express themselves. That’s how the first eight different coins were created to circulate all around Europe : the two euro coin, the one euro, the fifty , the twenty cent, the five cent, the two cent and the one cent ones. On these common faces, we can see different designs reminding us of the unity of Europe.

The first common faces

2 1 euro Common face Common face 1999-2007 1999-2007

This coin has a diameter of This coin has a diameter of

25.75 mm and a thickness of 23.25 mm, a thickness of 2.33 mm, and a mass of 7.50 g. It’s 2.20 mm, that’s why it’s the heaviest coin with a mass of composed of a ring of - 8.50 g. It’s composed of a ring of on the outside and of cupro-nickel on the outside and three layers on the inside of of three layers on the inside of which two are cupro-nickel which two are nickel-brass and and one is nickel. Also, its

one is nickel. Also, its edge is edge is either engraved with fine grooves or either smooth. engraved with fine grooves.

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50 cents 20 cents 10 cents Common face Common face Common face 1999-2007 1999-2007 1999-2007

The fifty cents coin’s The twenty cents coin’s The ten cents coin’s diameter is 24.25 mm diameter is 22.25 and it’s diameter is 19.75 mm while its thickness is 2.38 lighter than the fifty cents coin while its thickness is mm, which explains why with a thickness of 2.14 mm 1.93 mm which it is slightly heavier than and a mass of 5.74 g. This account for its mass of

the one euro coin: it coin is special because of its 4.10 g. Such as the weighs 7.80 g. It has fine form which is not rounded fifty cents coin, it has scallops at the edge. such as the others coins but fine scallops at the rather one called “Spanish edge. flower” because of the seven indents at the edge.

Indeed, on the coins above there are two designs symbolizing the unity of the European Union as an illustration of Europe only representing the member states belonging to the euro zone on the right side for the one and two and on the left side for the fifty, twenty and ten cents coins. Moreover, on all these shekels, on both sides of “Europe”, six stars are linked to the six others just like the stars on the European flag which is one of the official symbol of the European Union.

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5 cents 2 cents 1 cent Common face Common face Common face 1999-... 1999-... 1999-...

The five cents coin The two cents coin has The one cent coin has a has a diameter of a diameter of 18.75 mm diameter of 16.25 mm 21.25 mm for a for a mass of 3.06 g. for a mass of 2.30 g mass of 3.92 g. which makes it the

smallest and lightest

coin of this currency.

All the five, two and one cent coins have the same thickness: 1.67 mm and are all made of plated steel. Furthermore, they all represent the same thing : a view of the Earth with Europe between and as a way to convey the situation of the European Union in the world with the same star design asq the one on the other coins. Nevertheless, these three sorts of coins can be differentiated thanks to their edge which is plain except from the two cent coin.

The European flag and its twelve stars

9 The little differences like the thickness, the diameter or the edge of these coins may not seem important but it was a topic of debate in the EcoFin which is the reason why it took four years for all the members and other associations to agree on these characteristics. Moreover, for partially sighted persons it is the only characteristics that can allow them to have landmarks and thus to tell coins apart and not be hampered by what is supposed to represent modernism and future within Europe, or at least the European Union.

Nonetheless, as time went by, many other countries joined the Euro zone and the designs on the fifty, twenty and ten cents coins became obsolete as they only represented the first euro zone members. Furthermore, in the first type of coins, the countries were parted which didn’t really suit the idea of a European unity. It was thus necessary to modify these shekels, which permitted, in 2007, that these new coins came into circulation. However, the number or the place of the stars on the coins remained unchanged.

The current common faces

2 euros 1 euro Common face Common face 2007-... 2007-...

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50 cents 20 cents 10 cents Common face Common face Common face 2007-... 2007-... 2007-...

Today, the Euro coins haven’t changed since then and have become a part of the European citizens’ life, nineteen years after the idea of a common currency was born in 1992.

11 II. The Euro: a symbol of the European diversity

Many European countries now use the Euro, so it can be considered as a symbol of unity between the members of the European Union. However, the Euro isn’t use by all the members of the Union, some countries such as Great Britain or still keep their national (the and the Krona (Swedish Crown)) and refuse to adopt the Euro. So, the Euro, which is, at first sight, a symbol of the unity of the European Union is also a proof of its internal-divisions.

We can also notice that the Euro coins are not exactly the same in each European country. Indeed, if one of the coins’ faces is the same in the entire Euro zone, the other side is completely different depending on the country. Why did the European Union decide to create coins with different faces? Is it only a way to have many differences in the coin’s design in an artistic goal? Or a way to assert each country’s identity? To highlight the differences between countries which still exist in spite of their Union? To show to Europe and to the World elements which can bring pride to the country? Or, even a kind of propaganda for the regime of the country, for instance? Anyway, these differences between the European countries’ coins are a symbol of the divisions or at least the diversities which still exist within the Union.

So we are going to study the different kinds of images engraved on the national coin’s face. In a first part we will see the national symbols, then the artistic works or the monuments sometimes drawn on the coins and finally the personalities represented.

(Some other European countries (, Vatican, and ) have their own Euro coins. However, because they don’t belong to the European Union, we aren’t going to study them)

12 1) National symbols

Some countries decided to use national symbols on their coins. Indeed, it’s a way to keep a bit of diversity inside the European Union.

These symbols are sometimes historic as for Austria where we can see the Belvedere Palace on the € 0, 20. In 1955, a treaty was signed to re-establish the sovereignty of the country. Today, it’s a symbol of freedom, and at the same time, a symbol of one of the most beautiful baroque palaces in Austria.

€ 0, 20 Austrian coin

Germany decided to use historical symbol too. Indeed, the € 0, 10, € 0, 20 and € 0, 50 coins represent the Brandenburg Gate which used to be, a symbol a division of Germany into two parts. It’s an important symbol because it’s related to the Second World War. However, the Germans didn’t decide to use this coin as a way to remind the war to each country, but as a way to show that they are open for unification with the European Union (in fact, the door of the Brandenburg Gate is open on the coin).

€ 0,20 German coin

Portuguese € 0, 01 to € 0, 50 coins only represent a royal seal during the twentieth century. Here it’s a way to remember the country’s past. These coins are a perfect example to illustrate the volition of each country not to forget their own past without the European Union. Nevertheless, € 1 and € 2 coins represent Portuguese castles and coats of arms but it’s also a way to symbolise the exchange of values and the dynamics of the European construction. Portugal has coins to remember its own past

13 and then its identity, but it also has coins to hope for a future with the European Union, and maybe at last a common History.

€ 1 Portuguese coin

Coins symbols can also be traditional symbols. For example, we can talk about Ireland, which decided to use only the Celtic harp on all its coins. We can read the word Eire which means Ireland in Irish and the year when coins were created. Using a symbol which represent at the same time, a culture, a history and a tradition is a perfect way to assert its own identity. This is maybe a choice to show that they are European, but their culture is still different.

€ 1 Irish coin

It’s almost the same case for Germany even if, as we have just seen, they also have symbols send to the European Union. On € 1 and € 2 coins, we can see the Eagle which is a traditional symbol of German sovereignty. Finally, Germans decided to strike a balance between their own tradition and history with the Eagle and a common history with the Brandenburg Gate.

€ 1 German coin

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Eventually, the country which insists the most on its national symbols is France. Indeed, on its € 0, 01 to € 0, 05 coins, we can see Marianne, symbol of the French Republic, created during the French Revolution in the eighteenth century. Marianne is really feminine and seems to be young and determined. At first sight, we can think that is a way to assert its own tradition and history but it’s first of all sign of hope for a strong and lasting European Union. On € 0, 10 to € 0, 50 coins, we can recognize the sower which was a constant of the French “franc”. But the coin has a new design to stress on the fact that France really wants to integrate the European Union. That’s a new example which illustrates the volition of some countries such as France not to forget the European motto “Unity in Diversity”. They keep their own identity but they want to build a common future with others countries members of the European Union.

€ 0, 20 French coin

At last, France doesn’t only have coins which show that it’s a member of the European Union. Indeed, on its € 1 and € 2 coins, there is a tree, which symbolises life, growth and continuity. This tree is inside a hexagon, which has the same form as France territory. What’s more, France chose to use its motto “Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité” in order to remind its people of it.

€ 1 French coin

15 2) Artistic coins’ faces

When we look at our Euro coins, we can notice than on the national side of many of them, artistic or craft works are represented. Among these symbols we can find famous paintings, sculptures, drawings or great monuments.

Some countries have decided to use many art symbols such as Italy which has chosen to adorn all its coins with artistic or architectural masterpieces from the Italian culture.

Most of the Italian coins represent paintings made by famous Italian painters such as Da Vinci or for the €0.10 coin Botticelli with The Birth of Venus, one of his best-known works and also a symbol of the Renaissance, the artistic movement which has spread since the XIVth century through Europe. Others were engraved with the representation of sculptures created by artists like Boccioni.

€0.10 Italian coin

The one, two and five cents coins bear the representation of famous monuments such as the Coliseum of Rome, the largest amphitheatre ever built in the Roman Empire.

€0.05 Italian coin

We can wonder why Italy has decided to chose only works of art to engrave on their coins. Maybe, it is a way to emphasize the importance of the country in the European artistic culture. Indeed, Italy is considered as the birthplace of many great artists, masterpieces and even artistic movements (such as the Renaissance).

16 However it can also be a means to insist on the importance of Arts and more generally of culture in Europe.

Indeed, nowadays, one of the Europe’s wealth is its culture and many tourists come to this continent only to see its monuments, its museums and masterpieces. Perhaps, seeing these masterpieces on the coins we use everyday can remind us the luck we have to own such a rich culture, not to forget our heritage…

Several other members of the European Union have also decided to chose, to adorn their coins, famous monuments of their country and we can notice that among these architectural works, many are religious monuments.

It shows the strong links which exist in Europe between arts and religion. Indeed, many artworks, particularly old ones, are based on religion, have a religious topic or were made to adorn shrines.

For instance, we can observe cathedrals on the national faces of the €0.01, €0.02 and €0.05 Spanish’s coins, which represents the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, one of the most important pilgrimage’s places in Europe, and on the ten cents Austrian coin, where the famous St Stephen’s Cathedral of Vienna is drawn.

€0.05 Spanish coin

€0.10 Austrian coin

17 Finland has chosen a drawing to adorn its one euro coin. This drawing made by Perti Maekinen and representing two swans flying away symbolizes the independence of the country. This coin is a proof of the links between arts and important events in the history. Other coins are representing artworks linked with their countries’ history such as the Brandenburg Gate represented on the German coins.

€1 Finish coin

Greece has also decided to engrave fragments of its history on its €0.01, €0.02, €0.05 by representing former and recent Greek boats but also with its €1 coin. Indeed, this coin was drawn as the former Athenian currency (the drachma) was made with, on the national side, an owl as symbol for Athena, ’ patron goddess. Such a choice can be justified by the fact that drachma corresponds to the period of the heyday of Athens and of Greek culture, by extension. It’s a sort of reminder of Greece’s former power but also, maybe of the roots of democracy: this value shared by all the members of the European Union was born in .

€1 Greek coin

This choice could also be regarded as a way to keep links, with this drawing, between the new and the former currency…

18 3) Personalities represented

Sometimes, countries have chosen important personalities to represent their territory on coins. All these personalities have had an impact on the culture or in the history and policy of the country.

Some countries have decided to choose people who have participated in the construction of the country’s culture. It’s for example the case of Austria which has chosen Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a famous composer during the eighteenth century. He was a genius and today almost everyone knows one of his music compositions. It may be a pride for Austria, that’s why they have decided to choose him.

€ 1 Austrian coin

Spain has decided to choose a famous writer, Miguel de Cervantes qualified as the father of Spanish Literature during the sixteenth century. His most famous novel is Don Quixote. Almost every European has heard of this novel. As for Austria, he is a national pride known in every European country.

€ 0, 20 Spanish coin

However, most countries have decided to represent people who have had an impact on which policy or on history. Sometimes, as for Belgium, Spain, Luxembourg, and Netherlands, these people are none other than Kings, Duke or Queen still in function today. They represent the country; in some ways they are a national symbol. What’s more, concerning Queen Beatrix, she has received a price in 1996 to reward her efforts in the European unification.

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€ 1 Dutch coin

Greece has chosen people who had an impact on the policy in the past. These people didn’t have a direct link with other European countries. Here again it’s a way for Greece to assert its own identity and its own history, a wealthy history. On the € 0, 10 coins, we can see Rigas-Fereos, a forerunner and a leading figure of the Greek enlightenment. On the € 0, 20 coins, one other important political figure: Ioannis Capodistrias. He was the first governor of Greece in 1830 just after the Greek Independence War. At last, Eleftherios Venizelos was a pioneer of social reforms in Greece during the end of the nineteenth century. He has also played a key role in modernising the Greek state. All these men have tried to make Greece make strides and it’s maybe a way for this country never to forget that it is because of great men that it’s still here today with a democracy.

€ 0, 20 Greek coin

Finally, Austria also has an important personality, who symbolizes peace. This person is Bertha von Suttner, a radical pacifist who illustrates Austria’s efforts over many decades to support peace. That’s how we can see that each country wants to come and join the European Union with its own history. They don’t want to let it and to forget it. For example, Austria will always remember that it had to fight in the past to preserve peace. Today, this country wants to let every others European countries know through its coins.

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€ 2 Austrian coin

Certainly, all the European euro coins are different, but we can say that, more than a way to stay apart from the European Union, it is a means to allow each country to appropriate the Euro. Indeed, it’s easy to convince so many countries to forsake their own currency in favour of a new one which represents almost an entire continent and not the country. Thus, having their own symbols on the coins maybe helped the European countries adopt this new European currency without completely abandoning their economic national identity. We are Europeans but we have also a native and independent country that we don’t and won’t forget.

21 Conclusion :

Through all this report, we've been trying to find out whether this single and common currency, that is the Euro, has contributed to gather some of the member states of the European Union under the Europe Flag or whether it has brought up the inner differences that those states have been trying to put aside in order to protect peace. Searching for an answer, we came to realize that both of them were a reality: the Euro is at the same time a symbol of unity and a symbol of diversity. Indeed, its banknotes and coins' common faces are the embodiment of everything that has united the European countries through all the eras but they are also a way to define each specific culture of each European country thanks to the national faces of the coins. Thus, the Euro is a living illustration of the European Union motto: "Unity in diversity". Nevertheless, it can also be linked to an even older European symbol: the myth of . In fact, the (€) comes from the first Greek letter of the word "Europe" which is said to come from the myth of Europa. According to the , Europe was a beautiful princess, who was abducted by , brought to , and who gave birth to three sons – , Rhadamanthys, and , who all became judges on the Underworld. Zeus was the father of all the children of Europe but he asked her to marry , the king of stars. Starting off as a mortal woman in Greek Mythology, Europe became immortal after her name was given to the continent. One legend says that Europe had a dream one night in which two women – actually two continents –were arguing. One of them, Asia, believed that Europe belonged to Asia, since she was born there. The other one with no name -Europe - said Zeus would give the name to her. And that's how the continent became what it is now : Europe.

Europa on the back of Zeus transformed in a white bull to seduce her

22 Sources:

. http://www.ecb.eu/pub/pdf/other/euroleafleten.pdf

. http://www.euroswapper.com/

. http://www.eurocoins.co.uk/images2euros.html

.http://www.gralon.net/articles/economie-et-finance/bourse/article-l-euro--- presentation-et-symboles-3862.htm

. http://www.annuaire-web-france.com/piece-monnaie-euro.php

. http://ckidoo.free.fr/significations01.htm

. http://www.touteleurope.eu/fr/actions/economie/euro/presentation/symboliques-de-l- euro.

. http://jean-francois.mangin.pagesperso-orange.fr/romains/z_gard.htm

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