The German government has decided to mint a €2 commemorative coin entitled “Hamburg” to be issued on 24 January 2023. The coin is the first in the new “Federal States II” series. One coin will be brought out every year, each celebrating a different federal state and showcasing an emblem encapsulating the state depicted. The coins will be issued in the same order as the revolving presidency of the Bundesrat. The new series will focus in particular on the cultural identity and regional specificities of the individual federal states, following on thematically from its successful predecessor, the “Federal States” series, which was rounded off in January 2022.

Michael Otto, an artist from the town of Rodenbach, Germany, designed the national (picture) side. It shows the Elbphilharmonie concert hall, the new landmark of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. With its impressive, richly-detailed rendering of the Elbphilharmonie building, set against the maritime backdrop of the city, the motif is a compelling representation of the federal state of Hamburg.

The central part of the coin also features the letter “D” indicating that the country of issue is the Federal Republic of Germany, the year 2023, the minting letter of the respective mint location, the word “HAMBURG” and the artist’s initials. The twelve stars of Europe are arranged on the outer ring of the national side.

The European side corresponds to the common reverse side of the regular issue €2 coin in circulation since 2007, which depicts a map of Europe without national borders.

The technical parameters of the €2 commemorative coin are the same as those on any regular issue €2 coin.

Like the standard German €2 coins, the edge of the commemorative issue bears the inscription: “EINIGKEIT UND RECHT UND FREIHEIT” (UNITY AND JUSTICE AND FREEDOM) and a stylised Federal eagle.

A volume of up to 30 million coins are to be minted for circulation. The coin will be valid as legal tender throughout the euro area. 

The mint condition coins were successively put into circulation by the branches of the Deutsche Bundesbank as part of the normal cash requirements of banks and retailers at their face value (€2).