Obverse: The set consists of five 2011 German commemorative €2 coins, struck at all five German mints and identified by the mint marks A, D, F, G and J. The centre of the coin depicts Cologne Cathedral, one of the most famous architectural landmarks of North Rhine-Westphalia. Below the cathedral is the inscription NORDRHEIN-WESTFALEN. The outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union, while the year 2011 and the letter D representing Germany appear at the bottom. The corresponding mint mark is positioned beside the main motif.
Reverse: The reverse features the design characteristic of all €2 coins: a geographical map of Western Europe positioned on the right side of the coin and extending across both the inner and outer sections. The inscription 2 EURO appears above the map, while the numeral 2 is set against the Atlantic Ocean. The outer ring features 12 stars positioned on both sides of the map, with vertical lines visually connecting the upper and lower stars.
About the coins: The 2011 German commemorative €2 coin is dedicated to the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia and is the sixth coin in the German Bundesländer series. The design features Cologne Cathedral Kölner Dom, one of the most important examples of Gothic architecture in Europe and one of Germanys most recognisable landmarks. Construction of the cathedral began in 1248 but was not finally completed until 1880. Cologne Cathedral has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1996. The coin was designed by Heinz Hoyer. The set contains coins from all five German mints: A – Berlin, D – Munich, F – Stuttgart, G – Karlsruhe and J – Hamburg.
