The dispute over whether or not to put saintly halos on the heads of Saints Cyril (Constantine) and Methodius on a commemorative EUR 2 coin, caused by the objections of certain member states, has been resolved with the National Bank of Slovakia ignoring the requests and opting for the ‘religious’ version.
In a statement today from the 37th meeting of the Bank Board of NBS chaired by NBS Governor Jozef Makúch, the Bank Board approved the original draft design for the €2 commemorative coin marking the 1150th anniversary of the arrival of the mission of Constantine and Methodius to Great Moravia.
In its previous decision, the Bank Board approved modifications to the draft design on the basis of a recommendation made by the European Commission on 20 August 2012. The reversal of that decision is based on a change in the Commission’s position on this issue, communicated on 22 November 2012 by the Representation of the European Commission in Slovakia.
In approving the original draft design, the Bank Board duly noted the risk that a new notification process may pose to its principal objective in this matter, i.e. to issue a coin for circulation throughout the euro area which brings to a wider European public the historical significance of the mission of Constantine and Methodius.
The NBS Bank Board had previously accepted the objections on the following grounds:
- not to accept the requests would jeopardise the principal objective of the coin, namely to increase awareness throughout the European Union of the mission of Saints Cyril and Methodius;
- in other recent cases, similar requests for the modification of coin designs (in order to respect religious diversity) have been accepted;
- the Vatican, too, has in the past accepted requests for the modification of its €2 commemorative coin designs and it did so when the legal regulation of such designs was less strict (the law governing the designs of national sides of euro circulation coins has been significantly stricter since July 2012).
Národná banka Slovenska believes that the design finally approved for the €2 commemorative coin marking the arrival of the mission of Constantine and Methodius to Great Moravia represents a dignified joining of two symbols – the symbol of statehood and the symbol of Christianity. The Slovak double cross on three peaks and the bishop’s crozier held by Methodius are depicted as one and the same.
The catholic church is a money making machine so it’s appropriate that Slovakia depicts religion on their coins.However, the halos are a bit over the top since they do not accurately reflect the tenuous commitment of most Slovaks to true Christianity. In the current climate of economic austerity, the Greek government probably recognise the futility of allowing such high denomination coins to circulate among their citizens, lest it cause further unrest. The French, as always, complain about everything except the huge subsidies their grossly inefficient farmers get.
Read a good one today , the obnoxious little T U R D …..Rafael Rafaj, deputy chair of the Slovak National Party (SNS)….quote , “I need to voice a serious and disturbing suspicion that the EU is under the control of Satan or Satanism.” re the central bank’s previous decision to remove halos from an image of S&M to be used on some 2 euro coins.
Yea right, like the SNS is an everyday friendly, hard working farming group and a decent group of people …including in their history both the Interblue and Bulletin Board debacle`s tenders. They were then previously run by a very nice calm, sober and pleasant man that has a huge Holiday Villa , drives his own personal Bentley, Plane and Yach,t none of which he owns of course.
I think the SNS would be in good company with Satan or Satanism.
mmmmm , not sure I do not disagree with others on this on the halo inclusion.
However, what I do find disturbing is that Slowvakia,having shook hands on a deal with the EU, not to print the halo`s on the coins in accordance with the rules of objection, then reneged on the arrangements. Fact is guys, never ever trust a Slowvak and always count your fingers after you shake on a deal. No wonder everything runs here by huge contracts and written agreements rather than by trust of word and mouth, as you can never trust the word of any Slowvak ?
Fortunately…
We have sent an unbeliveable amount of money to Greece through the ESFM and they do not want us to give them halos? what the…
The NBS have made the right decision on this. The objections on the grounds of religious neutrality ( whatever that is ) were a bit contrived and the Greek objection defies belief. These two saints are part of Slovak history, their depiction should reflect their status – the original design ticks all the boxes for me. Mint it, issue it – anyone who doesn’t like it, please send the unwanted coins to me.
Dave,
This is mostprobably first time ti agree with you! 🙂 NBS shown that they have their head on the right place.
Greece have a point in fairness, most of the coins will end up in Greece eventually 🙂
Why am I not surprised ?….Only in Slowvakia !
Looks like there might be no coin after all. Without halos I prefer no coin at all.
2 countries had objected: France and Greece.
A rumor goes around that the reason why Greece did so was that the Greeks demanded to add a third cross bar on the cross and renounce that C and M had a Slavic mother 😀