On January 1, 2002, twelve European counries dissolved their original

currencies and adopted a unified currency: the Euro.  Designed to stimulate

European economic growth and power, the introduction of the Euro marked

the beginning of a new economic and cultural era.

With the introduction of the Euro, the coins once minted by these twelve

countries have been withdrawn from circulation and are no longer

considered legal tender.  This monumental switch signifies an end to

centuries of tradition.  The coins, once emblematic of individual cultures,

have become cultural artifacts.

Gone are coins that record each countr's history, such as Spain's 500 Peseta,

which features King Juan Carlos and Queen Sopia; Greece's 50 Drachmas,

which celebrates Greece's literary history with Homer in profile on the front

of the coin and its nautical prowess with an ancient sailing ship on the back;

and Ireland's 1 Pound coin, which features the national symbol of a harp on

the front.

This heirloom collection includes the final designs minted by each of the

twelve countries before the Euro replaced them as the official currency. 

Europe's Vanishing Coins comprise an historic numismatic tribute to be

treasured for ages.