| Obsolete coins are no longer in general usage, and | | | | major purpose of the European Union was to |
| not currently available as collector coins from a | | | | allow trade to exist between European countries |
| mint. For circulation coins, they were replaced by | | | | without the need for monetary conversions. One |
| new issues, and subsequently they have become | | | | of the first things the European Union |
| so scarce that they cannot normally be found. | | | | accomplished was the establishment of the Euro, |
| When a coin no longer appears regularly, its value | | | | the basis of its common monetary system. The |
| can increase, and often does. | | | | European Union also allows decimal parts of the |
| In modern times two major events caused a | | | | Euro to be minted in coins. While different |
| multitude of coins to become obsolete. These | | | | countries do produce Euros, to the delight of |
| were not two individual events, rather they were | | | | collectors, with different images, the |
| two sets of like events. | | | | denominations used are unified, and based on the |
| One set of events occurred as a reduction of the | | | | Euro. This move rendered obsolete a multitude of |
| influence of Great Britton on nations that were | | | | coin types that were used in Europe. This change |
| part of the might British Empire. Many countries | | | | occurred over time as various nations joined the |
| that were part of the British Empire used such | | | | European Union. The list of coins rendered |
| coins as the pound and the shilling. Many of these | | | | obsolete by the Euro is too extensive to include |
| countries now have the freedom to issue their | | | | here, but many names used prior to the various |
| coins in the denominations they wish. Until | | | | countries joining the European Union are now part |
| recently, Australia, New Zealand, and many small | | | | of history. Among them are the German mark, |
| island nations followed the British coinage, issuing | | | | the French franc, and the Italian lire, to give a few |
| denominations of coins normally found in Great | | | | examples. |
| Britton. Now the decimal coin is favored, and has | | | | Does this imply coins from before these sets of |
| replaced the British denominations in many | | | | events are becoming rare, and therefore |
| countries, including both Australia and New Zealand. | | | | valuable? This will be determined at some future |
| Currently, coins in these countries include dollar | | | | time, but the possibility is real and worthy of |
| coins and coins with denominations of decimal | | | | consideration. |
| parts of a dollar. | | | | One major difference should be noted. All Euros |
| An even greater impact on coinage occurred with | | | | are worth one Euro in any country, but dollars of |
| the establishment of the European Union. One | | | | different nations are not equally valued. |