2 euro FRANCE (1999-2002)

in the coin centre a simplified tree; hexagon in the background; on both sides of the tree letters: RF (RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE - French Republic); along the top edge: motto of France: LIBERTÉ ÉGALITÉ FRATERNITÉ (liberty, equality, fraternity); at the edge a ring of twelve five-pointed stars - symbol of the European Union; the lowest star divides the year of issue

< left from the coin centre face value: 2, on the right inscription: EURO; in the background of the inscription a simplified map of Europe showing borders of countries - members of the EU in 1999; in the background of the map vertically six parallel lines ending on both sides with five-pointed stars (the reverse is common for all euro coins)

reeded with concave inscription:

1 I 2002

in circulation

Joaquin Jimenez (signature J.JIMENEZ below letter F on the right side of the tree in the obverse), Luc Luycx (initials LL below letter O in EURO in the reverse)

La Monnaie de Paris (The Paris Mint), Pessac (mint mark before the highest star in the obverse, after the highest star privy mark of mint's director Pierre Rodier - bee leftwards - in 1999 and - bee rightwards - in 2000, or Gérard Buquoy - horseshoe - in years 2001-2002, or Serge Levet - heart - in 2003, or Hubert Larivière - horn - in years 2004-2006)

1999	301 050 000	bee	+ 35 000 in annual boxed sets
2000	297 270 000	bee	+ 35 000 in annual boxed sets
2001	150 216 624	horseshoe	+ 35 000 in annual boxed sets
2002	129 324 000	horseshoe	+ 165 290 in annual boxed sets
2003	-	heart	+ 242 342 in annual boxed sets
2004	-	horn	+ 160 000 in annual boxed sets
2005	-	horn	+ 120 000 in annual boxed sets
2006	-	horn	+ 80 000 in annual boxed sets

Privy marks of the general engravers of the Mint of Paris, which can be found on French coins produced after 1944:

Lucien Bazor	1931-1958		wing
Raymond Joly	1958-1974		owl
Emile Rousseau	1974-1994		dolphin
Pierre Rodier	1994-2000		bee
Gérard Buquoy	2001-2002		horseshoe
Serge Levet	2003		heart
Hubert Larivière	2004-2010		horn
Yves Sampo	from 2011		rosette

In the coin obverse there is a hexagon (in French l'Hexagone), which is among the French a nickname for their country. Indeed the shape of the Metropolitan France reminds this geometric figure.

The Paris Mint (La Monnaie de Paris) dating back to the 6th century is the oldest French institution, and some would say - oldest institution in the world. The mint office is located in the center of Paris in a complex called Hotel des Monnaies, which was opened on December 20, 1775. A cornucopia is the symbol placed on any coin minted by the Paris Mint from January 1, 1880. The second character visible on coins was a symbol of the general engraver (Graveur general). The tradition of this job dates back to 1547 when Henry II of Valois appointed a general engraver as the only person authorized to create the king's portrait. Only the design prepared by the general engraver could have been copied to the coins stamps in national mints. Starting from 2001, the heads of engravers workshop in the Paris Mint do not hold this traditional title anymore, but their privy marks still appear on French coins next to the mint mark.

The name of the French mint - La Monnaie de Paris - suggests that the plant producing coins is located in the French capital. This is however, only the company name and factories were placed in various French cities. At the moment, the only place producing coins of France (and of some other countries) is Pessac near Bordeaux.