Coins

Coins are metal pieces of money with a face value stamped on them – the oldest means of payment in the world, invented around 650 BC in Lydia (today's Turkey).

Euro coins:

• 8 denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 cents and 1 and 2 euros
• Front: the same throughout the eurozone
• Back: a national design for each country (Germany: oak leaves, Brandenburg Gate, federal eagle)
• Every euro coin is legal tender in all 20 euro countries – no matter which country is on the back

Interesting facts:

• Producing a 1-cent coin costs more than 1 cent – it's a loss-making business
• Coins worth over 7 billion euros are in circulation in Germany
• Collector coins: German €2 commemorative coins (federal states series) are popular with collectors

For children: sorting, counting and adding up coins is one of the most basic financial exercises. From age 4, children can sort coins by size; from 6–7, they understand their value.