2 euro SLOVAKIA (2013) Mission of Cyril and Methodius

on the left side of the coin torso of St. Cyril with a book en face, on the right side the torso of St. Methodius with a model of a church and the double cross on the basis of three mountains from the Slovak Coat of Arms; along the top edge: • KONŠTANTÍN METOD • (Constantine Methodius); along the bottom edge: SLOVENSKO • 863 ♦ 2013 (Slovakia 863-2013); at the edge a ring of twelve five-pointed stars - symbol of the European Union

left from the centre face value 2, on the right inscription: EURO; in the background of the inscription a map of Europe; 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:
SLOVENSKÁ REPUBLIKA (Slovak Republic and two five-pointed stars divided by a lime leaf)

5 VII 2013

still in circulation

Miroslav Hric (initials mh at St. Cyril's head on the left side of the obverse), Luc Luycx (initials LL below letter 'O' in EURO on the reverse)

Mincovňa Kremnica (Kremnica Mint), Kremnica (mint mark at St. Methodius' head on the right side of the obverse) 

2013

989 000

+ 4 000 in boxed annual sets + 7 000 in boxed coincards

Slovak commemorative coin of 2 euro from 2013 commemorates the 1150th anniversary of the Christian mission of Cyril and Methodius to Great Moravia. Brothers Cyril and Methodius (actually Constantine and Michael) were sent by the Emperor of Constantinople with the mission of converting the Slavs. They arrived to Great Moravia in 863, where they began introducing the Bible to the Slavs using newly-created Glagolitic alphabet. The support of the mission by the Pope of Rome and the development of literature became factors for consolidating countries in the region. Saints Cyril and Methodius are today considered co-patron saints of Europe.

After sending the design of Miroslav Hric for approval in the European Commission, the comission has indicated that the project violates Article 22 of the Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union and must be changed. The viligant eye of politicians noticed aureolas around the heads of the saints which allegedly violated the Article "The Union shall respect cultural, religious and linguistic diversity". Slightly larger cross did not raise any comment, and furthermore, it seems that it is rather the recommendation that violated the quoted Article 22. Slovakia protested against the Brussels recommendation and the Saints eventually kept their radiance.

Saints Cyril and Methodius appeared for the first time on Slovak coins already in 1941, when a designer Fraňo Štefunko placed the Saints on the reverse of 20 Slovak korun [SKO].