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The official site of Italy's central bank
The euro coin series comprises eight different denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, €1 and €2.
The eight coins are differentiated by weight, material, thickness and colour as well as by the kind of edge in relation to the other coins. These features make it possible for the visually impaired to recognize the individual coins by feel. (see EC Regulation No 975-98 on denominations and technical specifications).
In 1996 the EU Council of Economics and Finance Ministers (ECOFIN) established that euro coins should have a common European side and a national side chosen freely by the member states on condition that the12 stars of the European Union are incorporated into the design.
Even if they have different national sides, the coins can be used and circulate in all the states that have adopted the euro, independently of the issuing country.
The Principality of Monaco, the Republic of San Marino and the Vatican City are not formally part of the European Union but they have the right to issue euro coins with their own national sides and these coins are legal tender throughout the area.
In relation to limits placed on the coins being legal tender, art. 11 of EC Regulation No 974-98 establishes that with the exception of the issuing authority, no party is obliged to accept more than 50 metal coins in any single payment, regardless of denomination.
In Italy, euro coins are minted by the State Printing Works and Mint on behalf of the Ministry for the Economy and Finance, which, in its capacity as issuing authority, ensures that they are distributed nationally through the Sections of the State Treasury operating jointly with the branches of the Bank of Italy.
Damaged coins can be presented to the branches of the Bank of Italy, which then forward them to the State Printing Works and Mint.
The "recirculation" of euro coins is governed by EU Regulation 1210/2010 on the authentication of euro coins and the handling of coins unfit for circulation. Institutions handling coins (banks and cash-in-transit companies) that intend to put back into circulation coins that they have received as deposits are required to authenticate them using coin-processing machines included in a special list kept by the Commission; alternatively, the coins can be authenticated manually by duly trained personnel. In Italy the power to regulate coin handlers is assigned to the Ministry for the Economy and Finance. The Mint is assigned the power to check the coin handlers' capability to authenticate euro coins in accordance with Regulation 1210/2010.
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Council Regulation (EC) No 975/98 of 3 May 1998 on denominations and technical specifications of euro coins intended for circulation