All euro coins have a common "European" side and a national side. The common side has the same design in all the euro-area member states. Owing to the enlargement of the European Union (EU), the motif on the European side has had a new design since 1 January 2007.

The eight euro and cent coins clearly differ from one another in terms of their design, size and colour. There are coins in the following denominations: €2, €1, 50 cent, 20 cent, 10 cent, 5 cent, 2 cent and 1 cent. A euro is divided into 100 cents.

Even after the introduction of the euro, responsibility for the coin prerogative still lies with the competent national authorities; in Germany this is the Federal Ministry of Finance. The Bundesbank, for its part, is entrusted with the task of ensuring that a sufficient range of payment mediums are available to support the execution of payments.