Download MANY COUNTRIES, A SINGLE CURRENCY – 3 COINS AND

MANY COUNTRIES, A SINGLE CURRENCY – 3
COINS AND BANKNOTES IN OUR PURSES
Text 1
The euro banknotes and coins have replaced gradually the national currencies of the Member States that
have fulfilled the convergence criteria of EU membership. The European Central Bank authorizes National
Central Banks of the euro area countries to issue coins and banknotes and ensure the quality standards in
all the euro area mints.
Task 1
 Euro coins and banknotes are available in several denominations. List them.
 Discuss the meaning of the term mint with your partners and find out the corresponding terms in
the partners languages
Italian Dutch Portuguese Norwegian Greek Slovene
Mint zecca
Get in touch with your partners on the ELOS site, exchange mails, share results.
Task 2

The Principality of Monaco, the Republic of San Marino and the Vatican City are allowed by the
European Central Bank to issue euro coins. Discuss the reasons why and your personal opinions
with as many partners as you can. Write a short text about the results of the discussion.
Consult material on the ELOS and Marconi sites and in Internet; share results with your partners.
Text 2
The euro banknotes were designed by Robert Kalina of the Austrian central bank (Osterreichische
Nationalbank). Each banknote depicts a European architectural style: Classical, Romanesque, Gothic,
Reinassance, Baroque and rococo, the Age of iron and glass and Modern 20th century architecture. The
architectural elements represented, windows and gateways, symbolize the European spirit of openness and
cooperation. The EU twelve stars represent the dynamism and harmony of contemporary Europe. The
bridges on the back of the notes symbolize communication among people in EU and between Europe and
the rest of the world.
Task 1

Look at a euro banknote (any denomination) carefully and write a detailed description, then
compare it with the ones of your partners. Take a picture of the banknote you described and share
it with your partners on the ELOS site together with your description.
Task 2

The euro banknotes carry the acronym of the European Central bank in five linguistic variants: find
out what they are and what language (s) they refer to.
Get in touch with your partners on the ELOS site, exchange mails, share results.