Euros of all 12 participating countries are now available from Coincraft (44 Great Russell St. London WC1B 3LU). A full set (96 coins) is available at £82.50. Euros of individual countries (8 coins) cost £7.45 a set.
The two and one cent pieces of Finland are already rare because that country decided that prices should always end with a zero or a five. This pricing is not allowed in the EU, so they will strike a few which will hardly be used.
There are other rarities to be sought – pieces issued by the Vatican, Monaco and San Marino. These states are not in the euro-issuing group and their coins are only legal tender in their respective countries. Again this is against EU regulations. So these pieces are only patterns and, I imagine, destined to be rare.
Euros in Britain!
The Euros have arrived. Yes, we all know that – last New Year’s Day. No, euros for collectors have arrived in London.
