Editing Euro coins (section)

== Circulation ==
The [[European Central Bank]] closely monitors the circulation and stock of the euro coins and [[Euro banknotes|banknotes]]. It is a task of the [[Eurosystem]] to ensure an efficient and smooth supply of euro coins and to maintain their integrity throughout the [[eurozone]].<ref name="Circulation">{{cite web|url=https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/policy_and_exchange_rates/banknotes+coins/circulation/html/index.en.html|title=ECB: Circulation|work=European Central Bank|date=July 2019}}</ref>

=== Statistics ===
As of December 2021, there are approximately 141&nbsp;billion coins in circulation around the eurozone. In contrast, the United States has minted over 300&nbsp;billion pennies since 1983 when the current copper-plated zinc metallic composition began. Using a population of 341.9&nbsp;million for the euro area, that is roughly 199&nbsp;coins of denomination 1c or 2c&nbsp;per capita, and 215&nbsp;other coins per capita.
<!-- (36287489644+27895724396)/341925002 ≈ 187.71, (133437760625-36287489644-27895724396)/341925002 ≈ 202.54 -->

{| class=wikitable style=text-align:right
|-
|+ Statistical data valid December 2021<ref>{{Cite web|title=ECB Statistical Data Warehouse|url=https://sdw.ecb.europa.eu/reports.do?node=1000006517%7Caccess-date=2022-02-05%7Cwebsite=sdw.ecb.europa.eu|access-date=2022-02-05|website=sdw.ecb.europa.eu}}</ref>
!Denomination !! Coins in circulation !!Share !!Value in € !!Share
|-
| style=text-align:center| 1c
|38,120,000,000 ||27.00% ||   381,200,000.00 || 1.22%
|-
| style=text-align:center| 2c
|29,680,000,000 ||21.02% ||   593,600,000.00 || 1.90%
|-
| style=text-align:center| 5c
|23,036,000,000 ||16.32% || 1,151,800,000.00 || 3.69%
|-
| style=text-align:center| 10c
|16,248,000,000 ||11.51% || 1,624,800,000.00 || 5.20%
|-
| style=text-align:center| 20c
|12,725,000,000 || 9.01% || 2,545,000,000.00 || 8.15%
|-
| style=text-align:center| 50c
| 6,711,000,000 || 4.75% || 3,355,500,000.00 ||10.74%
|-
| style=text-align:center| 1€
| 7,747,000,000 || 5.49% || 7,747,000,000.00 ||24.81%
|-
| style=text-align:center| 2€
| 6,916,000,000 || 4.90% ||13,832,000,000.00 ||44.29%
|-
! style=text-align:center| Total
! style=text-align:right |141,183,000,000 !!100.00% !! 31,230,900,000.00 !!100.00%
|}

=== Counterfeiting ===
Approximately 100,000 counterfeit euro coins are taken from circulation annually, and roughly the same number are seized before they can be released. Given a total circulation of 56&nbsp;billion coins, counterfeit coins are relatively rare. About half the counterfeits feature the [[German euro coins|German national design]], but counterfeits have been detected for every issuing country. The majority of counterfeit coins are €2 (60% in 2011), with most of the rest being €1, and a few 50c&nbsp;coins. The number of counterfeit €2&nbsp;coins being found annually is decreasing, while numbers of counterfeit €1 and 50-cent coins are increasing.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Total amount of counterfeit coins seized from circulation
! Year !! Pre-circulation !! Circulation !! Source
|-
| 2017 || 31,059 || 160,914 || <ref name=AntiFraud2017>{{cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/info/news/economy-finance/eu-wide-progress-tackling-euro-coin-counterfeiting_en|title=EU-wide progress on tackling euro coin counterfeiting in 2017|publisher=Europa.eu |access-date=2019-02-17}}</ref>
|-
| 2016 || 77,084 || 150,258 || <ref name=AntiFraud2017/>
|-
| 2015 || 20 || 146,889 || <ref name=AntiFraud2017/>
|-
| 2014 || 301,970 || 192,195 || <ref name=AntiFraud2017/>
|-
| 2013 || 31,051 || 177,600 || <ref name=AntiFraud2017/>
|-
| 2012 || colspan=2 align="center" | 184,000 || <ref name=EuroCounterfeiting2012>{{cite web|url=http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-105_en.htm |title=EUROPA – Press Releases – Euro coin counterfeiting in 2012 |publisher=Europa.eu |access-date=2019-02-17}}</ref>
|-
| 2011 || colspan=2 align="center" | 157,000 || <ref name=EuroCounterfeiting2011>{{cite web|url=http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/12/81 |title=EUROPA – Press Releases – Euro coin counterfeiting in 2011 |publisher=Europa.eu |access-date=2012-05-24}}</ref>
|-
| 2010 || colspan=2 align="center" | 186,000 || <ref name=EuroCounterfeiting2010>{{cite web|url=http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/11/47 |title=EUROPA – Press Releases – Euro coin counterfeiting in 2010 |publisher=Europa.eu |access-date=2011-09-08}}</ref>
|-
| 2009 || colspan=2 align="center" | 172,100 || <ref name=EuroCounterfeiting2009>{{cite web|url=http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/10/2 |title=EUROPA – Press Releases – Euro coin counterfeiting in 2009 |publisher=Europa.eu |access-date=2011-04-10}}</ref>
|-
| 2008 || colspan=2 align="center" | 195,900 || <ref name=EuroCounterfeiting2009/>
|-
| 2007 || colspan=2 align="center" | 211,100 || <ref name=AntiFraud2007>{{cite web|url=http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/08/10 |title=EUROPA – Press Releases – Euro coin counterfeiting in 2007 |publisher=Europa.eu |access-date=2011-04-10}}</ref>
|-
| 2006 || colspan=2 align="center" | 163,800 || <ref name=AntiFraud2007/>
|-
| 2005 || colspan=2 align="center" | 100,500 || <ref name=AntiFraud2007/>
|-
| 2004 || colspan=2 align="center" | 74,564 || <ref name="AntiFraud2002-2004">{{cite web | url=http://ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud/media-corner/press-releases/press-releases/2005/20050118_01_en.htm | title=European Commission – OLAF – EURO COIN COUNTERFEITING IN 2004 | publisher=ec.europa.eu | work=European Commission | date=18 January 2005 | access-date=22 July 2013}}</ref>
|-
| 2003 || colspan=2 align="center" | 26,191 || <ref name="AntiFraud2002-2004"/>
|-
| 2002 || colspan=2 align="center" | 2,336 || <ref name="AntiFraud2002-2004"/>
|}

The European Technical and Scientific Centre (ETSC) estimates that up to 2&nbsp;million counterfeit coins were put into circulation in 2002.

Recent investigations by the [[European Commission]] have shown that counterfeit sophistication is increasing, making prompt detection more difficult.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.eux.tv/article.aspx?articleId=20053 | title='Most sophisticated' fake euro coin network uncovered in Italy | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080405181339/http://www.eux.tv/article.aspx?articleId=20053 | archive-date=2008-04-05 }}</ref> In 2008, Irish [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]] [[Eoin Ryan Jnr|Eoin Ryan]] called for tighter regulation over tokens and medals that are being increasingly used for small purchases mainly in vending machines across Europe.<ref name="Euro coins protection">{{cite web | url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?language=en&type=IM-PRESS&reference=20081201STO43283 | title="Euro coins need protection," says Irish MEP Eoin Ryan | publisher=europarl.europa.eu | work=European Parliament | date=1 December 2013 | access-date=1 August 2013}}</ref>