San Marino is not an EU member, but a monetary agreement allows it to use the euro and issue national coins. The first series began in 2002; the second arrived in 2017 with eight new scenes drawn from local art, towers, churches and civic symbols.
Paper money
Euro notes follow an easy architectural colour ladder - grey €5, red €10, blue €20, orange €50, green €100 and yellow €200 - wherever you spend them in Europe.
The euro banknote theme is imagined European architecture rather than real monuments: windows and gateways move from classical to modern styles, while bridges on the reverse suggest connection. Cash by Country artwork is an original, simplified interpretation and is not legal tender.
One wallet, two tours of the republic
The first series climbs from Montale to government
The copper values show the Third Tower, Statue of Liberty and First Tower. The middle coins move through the Basilica, Saint Marino and all three towers, while EUR 1 carries the coat of arms and EUR 2 shows Palazzo Pubblico.
The second series redraws every denomination
The 2017 designs redraw every value. The smaller coins show the coat of arms, city gate and the churches of St Quirinus and St Francis. Higher values move through Mount Titano and the Three Towers, two portraits of Saint Marino and the Second Tower.
The same saint appears twice, but not the same way
The 50 cent portrait comes from a painting by Emilio Retrosi. The EUR 2 image is taken from a work by Giovan Battista Urbinelli. Different artworks make the founder appear on two denominations without simply repeating one portrait.
Old designs did not lose their value
A 2002 Palazzo Pubblico EUR 2 and a 2017 Saint Marino EUR 2 are both circulating euro coins. The national side records the issuing republic and series, not an expiry date.
Collector interest and spending value are different
San Marino also issues commemorative and collector products. A souvenir shop price may exceed face value because of presentation, condition or scarcity, while an ordinary circulation coin remains worth the number printed on it when spent.