Since 1st January of 2002 the Euro is the official currency for most members of the European Union. After a lot of protests and grumbling it is now widely established, loved and a very stable currency. A true competition for the American Dollar.

I think it’s still a great idea to have different backsides for each coin and country. There are many great designs out there - and some new ones will be coming some day (I am talking to you - you lousy and hesitant Brits and Swedes):

Click image to get a MUCH larger collection.

Did the Euro hurt Europe and it’s economies? So far nobody has a definitive answers. Germany is slowly recovering - but not from the Euro, but the cost of reunification. Italy is down, but because of Berlusconi’s bad  economic policies. France is picking up speed, Spain is doing well, so are Austria, Holland and Belgium.

The strong Euro helps European to cope with high oil prices and cheapens import. But it doesn’t help exports much. Still Europe is doing well …

Happy Euro-Day everyone! Collect as much Euros as you can - there is is only a limited supply … good thing European don’t get their money from a private institutions like Americans and their privately held Federal Reserve Bank.