Editing Euro coins (section)

==== Initial design ====
The original designs of the 10c, 20c and 50c&nbsp;coins showed the outline of each of the 15&nbsp;EU member states. Each state was shown as separate from the others, thus giving Europe the appearance of an [[archipelago]]. EU member states outside the [[eurozone]] ([[Denmark]], [[Sweden]], and the [[United Kingdom]]) were also depicted. Non-EU states were not depicted.

On the €1 and €2 coins, the landmass appeared more cohesive although borders were indicated. As in current issues, all coins featured 12&nbsp;stars in their design.

The year featured on the coins can date back to 1999, when the currency was formally established (only [[Belgian euro coins|Belgian]], [[Dutch euro coins|Dutch]], [[Finnish euro coins|Finnish]], [[French euro coins|French]] and [[Spanish euro coins|Spanish]] coins were struck with the 1999 date). These countries traditionally strike coins with the year of minting rather than the year it was put into circulation.

Researchers from the [[University of Zürich]] warned that an external ring of metal surrounding an inner pill of a different colour, as in the euro coins, can lead to the release of high levels of nickel, causing allergic reactions with people sensitive to the metal. The researchers also warned that the coins could contain between 240 and 320&nbsp;times the amount of nickel allowed under the EU nickel directive.<ref name="Euro allergic reaction">{{cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2251152.stm | title=BBC NEWS Health Euro coins 'trigger allergy' | publisher=bbc.co.uk | work=BBC News | date=12 September 2002 | access-date=1 August 2013}}</ref>