The Joke That Corrupted Europe's Currency

Summary

This video dives into the fascinating and quirky story of the Euro's Stickman Two Euro coin. Originally minted in 2009 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Economic and Monetary Union, this coin's simple, humorous design—a stickman holding a Euro symbol—won an online competition, defeating more serious artistic entries. Despite its initial perception as a joke, the coin's widespread circulation and surprising charm have made it a beloved oddity. The video also explores the unique design elements of Euro coins and contrasts them with the confusing systems of American and British currencies, ultimately celebrating the Euro's appeal.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Euro is the official currency of 19 out of 27 European Union member states and is used in some non-EU countries like Monaco and Andorra.
• 😀 Introduced in 1999 and fully circulated by 2002, the Euro is the second most traded currency in the world after the U.S. dollar.
• 😀 Euro banknotes are uniform across the entire currency zone, while coins feature unique designs for each country, as long as they adhere to certain guidelines.
• 😀 Different countries, like Ireland and Italy, feature distinct national symbols on their Euro coins, such as the harp on Irish coins and the Vitruvian Man on Italy's 1 Euro coin.
• 😀 Some Euro coins, especially two-euro coins, are issued with limited-edition commemorative designs, which can be both collectible and visually diverse.
• 😀 The infamous 'stickman' two-euro coin was created to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) in 2009.
• 😀 The design for the stickman coin was chosen through an online public competition, where over 140,000 people voted, and the stickman design won with 40% of the vote.
• 😀 Despite its simplistic appearance—a stick figure holding a Euro symbol—the stickman coin became beloved by many for its quirky, humorous nature.
• 😀 The stickman coin represents the evolution of European trade, but the real appeal was its unconventional and endearing design, which resonated with the public.
• 😀 Approximately 90 million stickman two-euro coins were minted, with limited editions issued by each Eurozone country. Malta issued only 700,000, making theirs especially rare.
• 😀 The speaker collects these coins not for their rarity, but because the stickman design brings them joy, illustrating how even the simplest designs can have lasting appeal.

Q & A

What is the significance of the stickman design on the Euro coin?

The stickman design was chosen as the winner of a public competition held by the EU to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Economic and Monetary Union. The design, created by George Stamatopoulo, was seen as a humorous and somewhat crude representation of the evolution of European trade.

How many countries use the Euro as their official currency?

The Euro is the official currency for 19 out of the 27 member states of the European Union, as well as for a few non-EU countries like Monaco and Andorra.

Why are Euro coins designed with different backs depending on the country?

Euro coins are designed with different backs to reflect the national identity of the issuing country. As long as they follow regulations to ensure the coins remain recognizable, each country can feature its own design on the reverse side.

How does the design of the Euro coins differ from those of other currencies like the British pound?

Euro coins are designed to have a consistent size relative to their value, with different designs on the reverse. In contrast, British pound coins have a more complex and inconsistent design, where the value of coins does not always correspond to their size. The backs of British coins also make up the Royal Coat of Arms, but the design can look fragmented when viewed individually.

Why is the stickman Euro coin considered controversial?

The stickman Euro coin is controversial because it won a public competition, beating out more serious and artistically refined designs. The choice of a crudely drawn stickman was seen by some as an odd representation for a currency, but it became beloved for its humor and simplicity.

How many stickman Euro coins were issued, and which country made the rarest version?

An estimated 90 million stickman Euro coins were issued. Malta's version of the coin is considered the rarest, with only about 700,000 minted.

What was the original intention behind the design of the stickman Euro coin?

The design was intended to represent the evolution of European trade from primitive beginnings to the advent of the Euro. However, this justification was likely an afterthought, as the public's affection for the design stemmed more from its quirky and simple nature.

What makes the Euro a convenient currency for travelers in Europe?

The Euro is used by multiple countries across Europe, allowing travelers to visit several countries without needing to exchange currency. This ease of use and consistency is one of the reasons the Euro is considered a highly practical currency.

How do people typically react when they first encounter the stickman Euro coin?

People are often initially skeptical or surprised when they first encounter the stickman Euro coin, as its design seems almost too simple or like a joke. However, upon learning that it's a real, widely circulated coin, they are usually charmed by its humor.

What role does the Euro play in global finance?

The Euro is the second-most traded currency in the world, after the U.S. dollar. It is a major player in global finance, used not only by EU countries but also in a few other regions outside the EU, such as Monaco and Andorra.